This has been a sizzling summer for Swim Across America/Nassau-Suffolk (SAA/NS). SAA/NS was founded in 2001 to raise funds and awareness here on LI for cancer research, prevention and treatment. Now in its fourth year as a local SAA/NS team, TEAM HOPE participated in two great events this summer. In late July, 39 intrepid swimmers took the plunge at the Nassau Aquatic Center and swam a mile to honor their commitment to this worthy cause. In doing so, they raised over $23,000! On Aug. 12, TEAM HOPE's open water swimmers dove into L.I. Sound and raised over $64,000. While most swimmers opt for the one-mile swim, Manhasset's Kurt Kiess set a great example with his 5K swim and extraordinary fundraising efforts.

TEAM HOPE's total of over $87,000 was a significant part of the over $550,0000 raised by SAA/NS this year. The generosity of corporate sponsors ensures that all the funds raised by swimmers will go directly to local beneficiaries, which are the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital (MSKCC), the Swim Across America Laboratory at MSKCC in NYC and the Osteosarcoma Research Project at Children's Hospital at Montifiore. Also, SAA/NS will again partner with the Sass Foundation for Medical Research and present the Cancer Education Series, which will produce three free "Presentation-Workshops," which will each focus on a particular cancer topic. This series will begin with a "Breast Cancer Awareness Day," Oct. 20 at the Melville, NY, Marriott.

Swim Across America provides a great opportunity to make a difference here in the community. If you would like to receive more information about SAA, please contact mikef@swimacrossamerica.org