Moffitt Cancer Center to Host Charity Swim May 21

TAMPA, FL – For the fifth straight year, Swim Across America will hit the beach to help Moffitt Cancer Center search for a cure for metastatic melanoma and childhood cancers.

Swim Across America – Tampa Bay, the local chapter of the national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events, will host its open-water fundraising swim May 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Pier 60, 7 Causeway Blvd. on Clearwater Beach.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett will serve as honorary chair for the fifth year.

In the past four years, the event has raised $615,000 for metastatic melanoma research and the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at Moffitt. The SSA – Tampa Bay swim last year raised $175, 711, and organizers are looking to beat that mark in 2016.

“With the money raised through Swim Across America in Tampa Bay, the Swim Across America Adolescent and Young Adult Lounge opened its doors last year,” said Rob Shapiro, SAA event director. “Over the four years that we’ve had the swim, the money we’ve raised is now creating results. We are making an impact.”

Swimmers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate as fundraisers in the half-mile, 1-mile or the “Iron Man Distance” 2.4-mile course. Participants can swim as individuals or as part of a team in honor of friends and loved ones who have fought, or are fighting cancer.

Adults 18 and older are asked to raise a minimum of $500 and those younger than 18 pledge to raise $200. Swimmers participating in the “Iron Man Distance” course are asked to raise $1,000.

Pledges collected by swimmers, along with online donations and corporate sponsors, will benefit Moffitt’s metastatic melanoma research led by Dr. Shari Pilon-Thomas, Immunology associate member, and Dr. Amod Sarnaik, Cutaneous Oncology associate member, as well as the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program led by Dr. Damon Reed, Sarcoma Department associate member.

Moffitt focuses on pursuing and developing new therapies for melanoma since Florida has one of the highest incidence rates of the cancer in the country.

“We are grateful to Swim Across America for their ongoing support of our cutting-edge therapies for patients with metastatic melanoma,” Pilon-Thomas said. “We’ve treated 40 patients with advanced melanoma giving them a chance for a cure, made possible by funding from Swim Across America,” Sarnaik said.

During the event, cancer survivors and Moffitt researches will share stories of hope in the fight against cancer at a celebration and awards ceremony. Moffitt staff will also discuss how the money raised will be used by their laboratories.

Participants are encouraged to invite their friends and family to the event. Those unable to swim or volunteer for the even can donate to the Tampa Bay event or sponsor an individual or team.

To register for the swim, visit SwimAcrossAmerica.org/TampaBay. To learn more about donating or volunteering, visit the Swim Across America event page.

For more information, visit Swim Across America’s Facebook page or follow on Twitter at @SSATampaBay.

Images courtesy of Swim Across America – Tampa Bay and Shutterstock

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