Swim Across America to raise funds for UCSF Child Cancer Care

**WHAT:** Olympians and swimming enthusiasts will take part in Swim Across America’s third annual San Francisco Bay Area Open Water Swim. The 1.5-mile swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field raises money for pediatric cancer programs at UCSF Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Oakland through pledges and online donations.

**WHEN:** Saturday, October 18. Swim will take place from about 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by post-swim festivities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

**WHERE:** Swimmers will board the San Francisco Spirit yacht from Pier 9 and head for the Golden Gate Bridge, where they will jump in the water and swim back to Crissy Field East Beach for the celebration.

**WHO:** Olympians Craig Beardsley, Mike Bruner, Ray Carey, Annabelle Cripps, Margie Dingeldein, Jeff Float, Susan Heon-Preston, Glenn Mills, Roque Santos, Alison Townley, Heather Petri and Janel Jorgensen, as well as 100 other swimmers, some of whom are cancer survivors.

**CONTACT:** Media interested in covering the event or arranging interviews in advance should contact the UCSF News Office at (415) 476-2557. On the day of the event, contact Blake Chanowski of Swim Across America at (781) 888-2348.

**BACKGROUND:** Although the event attracts highly skilled athletes, it is not a race. Each swimmer pledges to raise a minimum of $1,000, and prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers. The swim is expected to raise about $200,000.

The event is the main funding source for the UCSF Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program, which helps pediatric cancer survivors maintain physical and emotional health for the rest of their lives – through clinical care, education and research.

Swim Across America is a national non-profit that runs events throughout the country to support cancer research at the best hospitals and institutions. To date, more than $23 million has been raised. For more information, visit