September 13, 2010

Swim Across America to benefit JH Kimmel Cancer Center

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events, will hold its first swims in the Baltimore area on Sunday, Sept. 19.

Pledges collected by the swimmers, corporate sponsors and online donations will support a lab directed by Luis Diaz at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.

Among those signed up to swim are Cancer Center director Bill Nelson, Nobel laureates Peter Agre and Carol Greider and a 19-member team rallied by John Burton of Bayview.

Olympian Michael Phelps will serve as the official starter for the one- and three-mile open water swims, which will be held in Gibson Island Harbor, starting at 8 a.m. from the Waltjen Shedlick Farm in Pasadena. A one-mile pool swim begins at the same time at the Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center in Baltimore.

The races are open to swimmers of all ages and skill levels. For more information, go to www.swimacrossamerica.org/Baltimore.