Swimming for a cure in Lynbrook

Swimmers of all ages

There were swimmers of all ages there … and it was a very relaxed atmosphere.”

Julie Bergin, co-coordinator

More than four dozen swimmers of all ages and abilities gathered at the Lynbrook pool last Sunday morning to join the national movement Swim Across America, with the goal of raising $8,000 for cancer research. It was the seventh annual event held at the pool — and the participants met their goal.

“We did really well,” said Julie Bergin, who coordinates the event with Kelly Stapleton. “There were swimmers of all ages there … and it was a very relaxed atmosphere. We’re still waiting for the final figures to come in — some of the swimmers got people to pledge with matching donations.”

The annual event has raised more than $110,000 locally since its inception in 2010. Bergin said that the money raised goes to local cancer research, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Rockville Centre at Mercy Medical Center. Some of the funds are earmarked to help cancer patients get the resources they need. This year, Bergin and Stapleton added Baxter Apparel — an online store where swimmers and others could purchase sweatshirts and hats embossed with “Lynbrook” logos — to their fundraising efforts.

“Some of the participants teamed up ahead of time, and held bake sales and the like, to raise money,” Bergin said. “Others got sponsors, to whom they pledged to swim a mile, half-mile or to volunteer.” Bergin added that you don’t have to be Olympic material to take part. “Some swim a few laps at a time, others do it all at once,” she said. “It’s very laid back.”

Some of the swimmers joined teams that held group fundraisers before the event, and then swam together. They included the Lynbrook pool lifeguards, captained by Chelsea Carver; the Lynbrook Village Pool Swim, with TJ Virgona as its captain; the Lynbrook Varsity Girls Swim, headed by Siobhan Stapleton; Lynbrook Cares, headed by Emily Bergin; Long Beach Swims, captained by Kyle Bergin; and PureBarre of Oceanside.

“We swim every day already, so we might as well use it to help someone out,” said Helen McGuire, who swims for both the Lynbrook High School varsity squad and the village team. McGuire, along with her teammates, wore “Swim Across America” temporary tattoos as they cruised up and down the pool.

The swimmers started at 7 a.m., and swam either a half-mile or a mile. Participants as young as 8 had two hours to complete their distances.

One of the youngest swimmers, Christopher Acevedo, 9, rallied with his family to raise $585 for the cause. He received donations from family members, friends and anonymous donors, many who cheered on his half-mile swim from the pool deck.

“I want to stop cancer from happening and help people,” said Christopher, adding that his great-grandmother, who died of cancer, was his inspiration.

For more information, go to www.swimacrossamerica.org/ns.

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