Swim Across America Year 12, Nashville Edition

Today, my daughter Alyssa turns 19. My "little" shamrock. ??

What better occasion to be a doting father and tell you how proud of her I am. Please take a moment and read her Swim Across America 2022 letter to friends and family:

I am back and readier than ever for my?12th year of Swim Across America!?This year, I am excited to announce SAA is returning to Tennessee, and the event will be held in?Nashville. Swim Across America has partnered with Vanderbilt and all funds raised will benefit the?Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, one of the best cancer research facilities in the country.?VICC?is a leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the number one cancer center in?Tennessee. The newly appointed head of the cancer center is?Dr. Ben Ho Park, who spent 16 years at the Johns Hopkins lab funded by SAA, and is very excited to have SAA now benefitting Vanderbilt.?

I always want to make a?bigger difference?and find ways to raise more money for cancer research...?so that's?what I did.

One of the factors of my decision to go to school in?Tennessee?was the opportunity to?bring Swim Across America to?Tennessee.?This year I helped to organize the?Nashville?event at Ensworth Natatorium. I am excited to expand my influence by having my fundraising benefit yet another extraordinary cancer research hospital. Instead of?Hopkins?where my brother was treated, now at?Vandy?where my uncle received treatment. You can visit the?Nashville?SAA social media pages (Facebook?and?Instagram) to see my handiwork :).?

I have been participating in Swim Across America since I was?8 years old at the Baltimore event. Last year, due to my transition into college at UT and knee surgery, I could not make it back to Baltimore, so I swam a mile at the?Charlotte Open Water event. This year, I am excited to be a part of the?Nashville?swim.

In the past 11 years, I am honored to have raised?over $143,000, all thanks to your support.?

I can't wait to see what year 12 brings. This year, I have set my goal at $7,000 to bring my overall total over the?$150,000 benchmark!??My inspiration for swimming is my brother Michael, who passed away from mixed lineage leukemia when he was nine months old.?Michael would turn 16 this Wednesday.?I don’t remember every second but I do remember loving every minute with him, and his face lighting up whenever I walked into his room.?To me, this event is not just about raising money to find a cure, it’s to?honor and remember those who fought their battle?and prevent other parents, siblings, and families from going through the loss of a loved one.

I am asking for your continued support in raising money to fund groundbreaking cancer research and clinical trials. Whether you swim, donate, or volunteer, you are helping to make a difference and save the lives of current and future cancer patients. I want to do everything I can so other families won’t go through what my family and I have gone through.

Click this link to view more about my story, and make a donation if you feel comfortable: https://bit.ly/Alyssa-SAA-2022

Thank you for all your support!

Alyssa???

As a father, it's hard to read that without being filled with an overwhelming sense of pride.

I hope that you will consider supporting Alyssa's swim this year and helping to make Swim Across America Nashville a smashing success! ??