Olympians and cancer survivors will join hundreds of swimmers of all skill levels for the fourth-annual Swim Across America – Dallas Open Water Swim to raise money for the Swim Across America Clinical Trials Center at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas. Scheduled for Saturday, June 7 at The Harbor at Lake Ray Hubbard, the 2014 open water swimming event features a new 5K distance, in addition to one-mile and half-mile distances. Swim Across America (SAA) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through nationwide swimming-related events.
SAA-Dallas provides a rare opportunity for swimmers of all skill levels to join the fight against cancer in their own community by taking the plunge into Lake Ray Hubbard alongside past members of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. Olympians planning to swim the 2014 event include gold medalists and former world record holders such as Ryan Berube, Jim Montgomery, Daniel Watters, Andrea Dickson, Neil Walker, Brad Bridgewater, Walter Soza, and more. In addition to the open water event, swimmers can opt to participate in the SAA – Dallas Pool Swim at Town North YMCA on Sunday, June 8.
“In just three years since the inaugural Dallas swim in 2011, we have raised more than $900,000 for innovative cancer research and treatment here in our local community, and we’re poised to blow past the $1 million mark this year,” said Jeanne Cunningham, Swim Across America – Dallas co-chair and former U.S. National Swim Team member. “We have a special partnership with the team at the Swim Across America Clinical Trials Center at Baylor and are inspired by the advancements they are making in the fight against cancer. Though we’re proud of the impact we’ve made so far, we are committed to always raising the bar and have set our 2014 fundraising goal at $400,000.”
“The support we receive from Swim Across America has played such an important role in helping us open our new Phase I clinical trials center that we named it the Swim Across America Innovative Clinical Trials Center,” said Dr. Alan Miller, medical director, Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas and chief of oncology. “The opening of our clinical trials center means that we now bring hope to more patients with difficult-to-treat cancers who have not responded to standard cancer treatments, and are helping to develop new and better treatments that can benefit all patients. We look forward to our continued partnership with Swim Across America and encourage anyone who has been affected by cancer in any way to get involved as a swimmer or volunteer as we continue our work to find a cure for cancer.”
Swimmers must raise a minimum of $500 in order to participate in the half-mile, one-mile or 5K course at Lake Ray Hubbard. Pool Swim participants must raise a minimum of $100 to participate. Participants may swim individually, or as part of a team, to honor friends and family that have been affected by cancer. Swimmers who pledge to raise a minimum of $1,000 for SAA are designated as “Wavemakers” and receive additional prizes and recognition at the event. To learn more about how the Swim Across America – Dallas is “making waves to fight cancer,” please visit WWW.SWIMACROSSAMERICA.ORG/DALLAS.
About Swim Across America
Swim Across America, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming- related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current Olympians, SAA is helping find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service.
About Baylor Scott & White Health
Baylor Scott & White Health is a not-for-profit health care system with total assets of $8.3 billion* and the vision and resources to offer its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The new system includes 43 hospitals, more than 500 patient care sites, more than 6,000 affiliated physicians, 34,000 employees and the Scott & White Health Plan. For More Information visit: www.BaylorScottandWhite.com
* based on unaudited fiscal year 2013 financial statements
This release is courtesy of Swim Across America.