While sports in general contribute to a lot of positivity and a sense of camaraderie in any community, perhaps one of the best kind of upliftment provided by the sports world is charity events. Humans come around to help fellow humans without any expectation of a prize or recognition in a wholesome affair. A swimming event organized by Swim Across America hopes to achieve the same.
Swim Across America is a non-profit organization involved in raising funds to donate to cancer research. The modus operandi is to organize charity swims, and then donate the proceeds from the same to a hospital. According to its website, since its inception, SAA has donated more than $100 million towards cancer research.
Swimming and charity at its best
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According to a report by News Channel 5, Swim Across America is organizing a swim relay race that is going to take place in Nashville today, April 16. Hundreds of swimmers will take part in the event. The goal of the Swim Across America Nashville Pool Relay Swim is to raise $75,000. The Swim Relay is to be held at the Ensworth Natatorium in Nashville.
All the participants of the swimming event will have the option to dedicate their swim to a loved one who has battled cancer. The participants will be divided into teams to play the swim relay. This particular relay is going to be organized to raise money for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center research.
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In addition to supporting cancer research, the events organized by Swim Across America also act as fun platforms for the community to interact with each other and become even more tightly knit. Hundreds of participants of all ages will come together to “make waves to fight cancer” in the second annual Swim Across America-Nashville Pool Swim.
The impact of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
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The Center is a prominent part of the Nashville community. “People around this community know the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. They know people who have been treated there, or they have been treated there,” said event co-director Alyssa Corb. She added, “So the fact they know their money is going somewhere they know and trust is important to us as well.” The event organizers revealed that this was their second year partnering with the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
So far, the organizers have raised $140,000. The goal of this funding will be to help the commencement of trials and programs that are not supported by national funding. The research has gone on to provide breakthroughs in cancer treatments. According to Nashville.com, this particular relay race will also be a homage to colon cancer survivor Susan McPherson, a resident of Nashville, who is also the mother-in-law of one of the event’s directors, Chris McPherson.
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This is indeed a noble cause that Swim Across America has dedicated itself to. What else is better, than when philanthropy brings people together?