Date(s): Oct 02, 2021
Time: 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
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SWIM ACROSS AMERICA RETURNS OCTOBER 2, 2021 FOR IN-PERSON EVENT BENEFITING THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER
New Venue–Lake Lanier Olympic Park–Will Host The Annual Open Water Swim
Swim Across America-Atlanta (SAA-Atlanta) plans to return Oct. 2, 2021 to make waves in the fight against childhood cancer. For the first time, SAA-Atlanta will take place at the beautiful Lake Lanier Olympic Park, home of the rowing events in the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Fundraising efforts persevered in 2020 with a Coast to Coast virtual activity tracking and fundraising challenge that replaced the in-person open water swim due to safety precautions surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. Swim Across America is dedicated to providing a safe return to in-person events in 2021.
Historically, the event has brought more than 600 regional swimmers of all skill levels, Olympians, and cancer survivors to support cancer research at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
More than 10 Olympians are expected to swim the open water event and participate in an autograph clinic for registered swimmers and Olympians, land volunteers and spectators. Swimmers can swim individually or as part of a team, and can choose from half-mile, 1-mile, and 5K distances.
In just nine years, SAA – Atlanta has grown into a top event in both fundraising and attendance for Swim Across America (SAA), which hosts swim events coast-to-coast that fund life-saving cancer research.
“The reason for the success of the SAA – Atlanta swim are our 20-plus local swim teams (to-date) from high schools, swim clubs, families, and corporate teams like sponsors Accenture and Cisco, who dive into “fun” raising in honor and memory of cancer warriors,” says Nicole Schwartz, SAA – Atlanta event director. “Thanks to their commitment, we’ve been able to contribute so much over the years to this deserving cause.”
SAA—Atlanta funds benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This year’s event will benefit the research efforts of Young Investigators at the Center. Support for young investigators provides funding to a cohort of promising investigators and future research leaders to encourage and promote quality research in clinical oncology. The intent is to fund physicians and provide career and project support for young, proven investigators in postdoctoral fellowships or who have recently achieved junior faculty positions and are committing their lives to the field of pediatric cancer to provide research with vibrant new ideas. Funding is designed to nurture young scientists in the pursuit of independent hypotheses and enable them to develop the preliminary data necessary to successfully compete for major research grants. SAA funding will support five young investigators and their respective research studies.
To date, SAA – Atlanta has raised $2.31 million for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Previous funds have supported pediatric brain research, leukemia research and clinical trials.
“Thanks to partners like Swim Across America, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center remains a national leader in pediatric cancer treatment research through development of protocols that improve the way we fight childhood cancer,” said Dr. Douglas Graham, Chief of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. “Swim Across America’s commitment to cancer research, including support for our Young Investigators at the Center, is critical to helping us find innovative treatment options.”
Participants are invited to swim in upcoming Open Water Swim Clinics, which are general fundraisers for SAA – Atlanta. The clinics are a great way to prepare for the October event, offering drills, techniques, and stroke correction from Atlanta’s top swim coaches. The clinics are open to all ages and skill level.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Mary Alice State Park, 1820 Mary Alice Park Rd.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Price: $40.00
Register https://bit.ly/3ceYNRe
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Mary Alice State Park, 1820 Mary Alice Park Rd.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Price: $40.00
Register https://bit.ly/3ceYNRe
To swim, volunteer or donate, visit WWW.SWIMACROSSAMERICA.ORG/ATLANTA.
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About Swim Across America
Founded in 1987, Swim Across America holds dozens of community-oriented open-water swims from coast-to-coast, each fundraising for a local beneficiary that supports cancer research, prevention and treatment. The organization is characterized by their desire to make a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer through their love for swimming. To learn more, visit swimacrossamerica.org.
About the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader in pediatric cancer and blood disorders treatment and research. As one of the largest pediatric cancer and blood disorders programs in the country, we care for more than 8,000 children each year including 515 newly diagnosed patients last year alone. We care for children and young adults with a wide range of cancer and blood disorders—from the most common to those rarely seen.
As Georgia’s top pediatric cancer research center, we rank No. 1 in the country for Children’s Oncology Group (COG) clinical trial enrollment, and we offer patients access to more than 400 clinical studies, including some of the most novel diagnostic and treatment options in the country. Our physicians participate—and often hold leadership roles—in all of the major national collaborative research consortia geared toward the early clinical development of promising therapies for cancer and blood disorders. Our goal is to provide an open clinical trial for every child we treat, making innovative care accessible to our patients who need it most.
