Politics & Government

Lynbrook Swim Raises $23K for Cancer Research

More than 60 swimmers participate in third annual Swim Across America in Greis Park.

They came for the love of swimming, to honor a loved one and to make a splash in the fight against cancer.

More than 60 swimmers of all ages dove into the pool at n Lynbrook Saturday morning and logged hundreds of laps while raising more than $23K to fund cancer research, prevention and treatment programs at local hospitals.

It was only the third year Lynbrook hosted its own Swim Across America event -- part of a national program that collects funds for cancer programs by holding various swim-a-thons -- but the community more than doubled the amount raised since the event's inception.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lynbrook residents Kelly Stapleton and Julie Bergin brought the event to the village in 2010 after attending a Swim Across America program at Eisenhower Park the previous year. The village granted them permission to use the pool at Greis Park and the first year, they raised roughly $10K. They nearly doubled that amount in 2011 and this year, exceeded their goal of $20K by more than $3,000.

Throughout the morning, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., adults and children swam side-by-side in the lap lanes. Some swam a mile or half mile on their own, while others teamed up to tackle the distance. NYS Assemblyman Brian Curran, a Lynbrook resident, counted the swim as training for the TOBAY Triathlon he'll be competing in later this month, for which he has been raising funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Some people come just because they are swimmers ... but for some people it's personal to them," Stapleton told Patch. "My dad had cancer and has passed away from cancer, so it's close to the heart."

"Everybody's lives have been touched by cancer," Bergin added. "I don't think there is anyone here who hasn't been touched by it."

Both Stapleton and Bergin were able to attend the Swim Across America kick-off event this year, where they met some of the local doctors and researchers making advancements toward finding better treatments and possibly a cure for cancer.

"Some of them have breakthough things that they are going to bring to the FDA ... and our money is directly going there," Bergin said.

"It's so nice to see the money we're earning here goes to all local hospitals," Stapleton added.

Bergin, who swam in honor of her sister, a breast cancer survivor, and her uncle, who passed away from cancer, said the pool can be a great place for reflection.

"When you're swimming, you're in your own head so you can think about your loved ones who passed on or who you're swimming for," she said. "It's good therapy."

To learn more about the Swim Across America program or to make a donation, click here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here