Rep. Tony Hwang with Frank Scifo, MD - Co-Chairman of SWIM Across the Sound and Ron Bianchi, Executive Vice President, St Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT.
Rep. Tony Hwang joined swimmers, boat captains and enthusiastic supporters to help turn the tide against cancer. Saturday, August 6, 2011 was the 24th Annual St. Vincent’s Medical Center SWIM Across the Sound® Marathon, one of the nation’s largest open-water swimming events.
“It was inspirational and emotionally touching to watch the swimmers; people touched by cancer and all the passionate supporters of cancer care congregate at this great event to fight cancer.” Rep. Hwang said, “I am honored and privileged to help recognize these true heroes in our community”.
More than 280 swimmers, protected by a fleet of 130 boats, launched from Danford’s Marina in Port Jefferson, NY to make the 25 kilometer (15.5 mile) journey across the Long Island Sound to Captain’s Cove Seaport in the historic Black Rock section of Bridgeport, CT.
The SWIM Marathon started in 1987 and raised $5,000 that first year for the cancer charity. Since then, the SWIM has grown into a year-long series of events, which has raised millions, $2.6 million in 2010 alone.
Sponsored by St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation, the SWIM raises funds to provide financial support and care for the needs that health insurance companies do not cover. The SWIM provides cancer screenings at low or no-cost to the uninsured and underinsured. It helps cancer patients and their families through free support groups, providing wigs, prostheses, and financial assistance with medications, transportation, daycare, utilities, mortgages and more.
For more information about the St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Soundvisit www.swimacrossthesound.org
