This announcement is courtesy of Swim Across America.
WHAT: Swimming enthusiasts, including former Olympians, kayakers and volunteers will take part in Swim Across America’s eighth annual San Francisco Bay Area Open Water Swim, benefiting two Bay Area cancer research programs. The 1.5-mile swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field raises money for programs at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program and The Center for Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland through pledges and online donations.
WHEN: Saturday, October 5th, 2013. The swim will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by post-swim festivities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Swimmers will board the Hornblower’s San Francisco Spirit yacht from Pier 3 and head for the Golden Gate Bridge, where they will jump in the water and head back to Crissy Field East Beach for the finish and the celebration. Media opportunities on the beach beginning at 9:00 AM for photos and interviews.
WHO: 250 swimmers including 4- time Olympian and 2012 Gold Medal Water Polo Olympian Heather Petri – Honorary Chair for the event and Bay Area native (Cal) and former Olympians Dana Kirk (2004), Ericka Lorenz (2004), Susan Heon-Preston (1984), Allison Wagner (1996), Mike Bruner (1976, 1980), Mike Kiedel (2000) Craig Beardsley (1980), Sean Nolan (Water Polo, 2000) and others, Many cancer survivors will also participate. In addition, there will be about 75 land volunteers and 60 kayakers and boaters.
CONTACT: Media interested in covering the event or arranging interviews should contact: Susan Helmrich at [email protected] or at (510) 710.8737; Juliana Bunim at the UCSF News Office at (415) 502-6397; or Katia Merriam at Children’s Hospital Oakland at (510) 428.3898 or [email protected]. On the day of the event, contact Kay Foley, the lead at Crissy Field Beach at 508.340.0014.
BACKGROUND:
The event is the main funding source for UCSF’s Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Program, which helps pediatric cancer survivors maintain physical and emotional health for the rest of their lives – through clinical care, education and research. Funds are also raised to further research at CHORI’s Center for Cancer Research. The Center’s work spans the full spectrum of cancer research, and the SAA funds will allow the Center to expand existing programs and support the career development of junior researchers through fellowships.
The SAA –SF Bay Swim is a recreational event that includes swimmers of all ages and skill levels. Each swimmer pledges to raise a minimum of $500, although many raise much more. To date, at least 2 teams have each raised over $50,000. The swim hopes to raise more than $400,000. There are 22 teams involved; all are swimming in honor or in memory of someone who has had or who currently has cancer. At Swim Across America, money raised locally stays local, insuring that swimmers always know the impact that they are making in the fight against cancer.
About SAA
Swim Across America is a national non-profit that runs swimming-related events throughout the country to support cancer research at the most highly recognized hospitals and institutions. To date, more than $50 million has been raised. For more information, visit www.swimacrossamerica.org .
This release was provided to SwimSwam by SAA.