Swimming For Survival - Twenty Bridges

Hello family and friends,

It is OFFICIAL - Saturday, August 31st, I will attempt to swim the 20 Bridges or formally (and more famously) known as the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a 28.5 mile circumnavigation of Manhattan Island.  I hope to conquer this massive undertaking and in doing so, raise money for cancer awareness, research, and patient advocacy.  My mother, Patricia A. Griffin, succumbed to her battle with pancreatic cancer 11 years ago at age 65, a childhood friend recently passed away at age 42, while another dear friend is fighting her battle at age 34. This is NOT OK.  

There are over 100 different kinds of Cancer, touching each and every one of us in a different way on a daily basis.  It is my mission to raise money to help find a cure.  In the past I have have competed in and hosts multiple events to help raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer, Leukemia & Lymphomia Society, HIV and AIDS, Alzheimers, and Mental Health, to name a few, by successfully swimming the Catalina Channel as a solo swimmer, finishing TWO Ironman distance triathlons, Mud Runs, and now hopefully 20 Bridges.    20 Bridges is going to be one of the hardest, not to mention grueling, challenges of my life - both mentally and physically - but it pales in comparison to what those battling these horrendous diseases daily.  If raising this money for them will take even one minute of pain away, it is the least WE can do. 

Passion for these causes fuels these feats. Please help me help researchers find a cure! 

So, my goal is simple. For each mile I swim,  in the East River, Bronx River, and the Hudson River — gross, I know, - I want to raise $1,000. And I expect to finish all 28.5miles! 100% of all donations (minus any fees charged by GoFundMe and the boat rental fees) will directly and equally benefit three amazing organizations:

THE HIRSHBERG FOUNDATION: Founded in 1997, the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing pancreatic cancer research, and providing information, resources, and support to pancreatic cancer patients and their families. I am proud to say that they have helped my friend’s father put up one of the best fights against this disease that I have seen, and he is currently in remission. ( www.pancreatic.org) 

MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER: MSKCC is the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center. It has devoted more than 130 years to exceptional patient care, innovative research, and outstanding educational programs. It also was the unofficial home, or Chateau de Sloan as I refer to it, for my mom during all her treatments. It has also been the home away from home for the countless other families who have battled and are still battling cancer. ( www.mskcc.org)·  

STAND UP TO CANCER:  Stand Up To Cancer’s (SU2C) mission is to raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now.
SU2C brings together the best and the brightest researchers and mandates collaboration among the cancer community. By galvanizing the entertainment industry, SU2C has set out to generate awareness, educate the public on cancer prevention, and help more people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors.  (https://standuptocancer.org/)

So, please join me as I “Swim for Survival - Twenty Bridges.” Please know that your financial support will fuel each and every stroke I take, motivating me the entire way. You are all holding me afloat!

I thank you in advance for any amount that you send my way. I cannot express how much your donations and supporting words mean to me during my endeavor. 

LET’S CURE CANCER!

Rachel