Swim Across America Raises Nearly $1 Million For On-Island Cancer Care And Oncology Research

The island community came together Saturday morning at Jetties Beach for the 14th annual Swim Across America - Nantucket open water swim and raised nearly $1 million for on-island cancer care and oncology research.

The annual event was blessed with sunny skies and a high tide as hundreds of participants took to the water with many more on the beach cheering them on.

Swim Across America Nantucket benefits local cancer care at Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Palliative & Supportive Care on Nantucket (PASCON), as well as oncology research at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute in Boston. Over the past 14 years, it has raised more than $7 million for those causes.

On Saturday morning, those in attendance for Swim Across America Nantucket heard from island resident Lucy Cobb, whose husband Ron Lynch is going through treatment for bladder cancer.

“Ron received this immunotherapy called Keytruda, which was developed in large part through funding from Swim Across America,” Cobb said with Lynch by her side. “So you see, Swim Across America has really touched us every step of the way. Ron was able to have those tubes removed some months ago, and can now get back in the water. I'm happy to say his scans have shown that the cancer has stopped growing, and we've just had new scans, and I'm happy to report that he's officially in remission. It takes us all working together: nurses, doctors, pharmacists, family, friends, caretakers, fundraisers, and supporters like you. Thank you all for being part of this amazing community.”

The event features a “kids splash” for the youngsters, as well as quarter-mile, half-mile, and one-mile swims. Island residents Jill Roethke and Jim Pignato are the co-directors of the event, which is one of numerous Swim Across America open water swims in the U.S.

At the conclusion of the event, Roethke and Pignato announced a fundraising total of $935,000, a number that is expected to continue to climb as donations remain open through October.

All photos below by Chris Tran