Swimmers from Long Island getting ready to create ripples in the fight against cancer at the 'Swim Across America' event
Swim Across America Raises Millions for Cancer Research on Long Island
Swim Across America (SAA), a non-profit organisation established in 1987, has been making a significant impact in the fight against cancer for over three decades. Based in the United States, SAA aims to fund innovative cancer research, clinical trials, and patient care programs, with a focus on saving lives and giving hope to patients.
The Long Island-area events, spearheaded by the Long Island Sound open water swim, are among SAA's largest and most impactful. Now in its 33rd year, the Long Island Sound event alone has raised nearly $30 million to support cancer research locally and nationally. Funds from these events have contributed to FDA-approved immunotherapy treatments such as Keytruda, Opdivo, and Yervoy.
Steve Chestler, a 69-year-old from Woodbury, is one of the many individuals taking part in this year's event. Chestler, who lost his wife to adenocarcinoma in 2021, is participating in memory of his late wife and is part of a team named Team Carolyn. Chestler's wife was an avid swimmer, having swum the English Channel, and Chestler has been training for the event for at least 10 weeks.
The Long Island Sound open water swim offers various distances, including a 10K swim, a dedicated group of swimmers raising significant funds. In 2025, 615 swimmers and 250 volunteers participated, raising over $2 million for prominent cancer research institutions including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Cancer Support Team, a Westchester-based home care program for cancer patients and families.
Smaller related events, such as the Huntington YMCA Bluefish SAA Pool Swim, have also demonstrated significant community impact by exceeding fundraising goals and channeling support toward research centers like Memorial Sloan Kettering, Weill Cornell, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and others within the region.
According to Chestler, everyone is affected by cancer, and SAA wants to help find a cure. He believes the event brings people together in a common fight against cancer. Initially, some team members were concerned about raising the required amount of money, but Chestler found it surprisingly easy to secure donations and financial pledges. Team Carolyn, led by Chestler, has raised $215,583 so far, which is 86% of its goal.
This weekend, Swim Across America is returning to the North Shore, with the event taking place on Saturday at Prybil Beach in Glen Cove and on Sunday in Cold Spring Harbor. Chestler emphasises that everyone can make a difference in the fight against cancer, and he encourages others to consider participating in future events or making a donation to support this worthy cause.
- Steve Chestler, participating in Swim Across America (SAA) in memory of his late wife, has been raising funds for medical-conditions like cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma, and contributes to these funds for health-and-wellness research institutions such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- SAA, with its focus on science and innovation, has contributed to FDA-approved immunotherapy treatments like Keytruda, Opdivo, and Yervoy, demonstrating the significant impact of water-related events like the Long Island Sound open water swim on cancer research and medical-conditions like cancer.
