"On December 4th, 2024, Toni Sousa lost an 11-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Toni has left a legacy of hope giving back to every community she was a part of whether it was the swimming community, the town of Carver, or just a friend in need." 

I was absolutely blessed to have known Toni Sousa throughout my entire swimming career, and I truly believe that anyone who was lucky enough to have met her would say the same thing. Anyone who has ever been on a team with the Sousa family can understand the role that Toni would take to help every other family within that team. 

I will never forget the countless lunches Toni would bring in between sessions from my time at OCY all the way up to my time at RWU. Even for the few years that I was not on a team with Dalton, Toni was always a familiar face on the pool deck as an official who would always come over to give you a hug and catch up for a little while. If everyone in the world was half the person that Toni Sousa was the world would be a far better place. 

Thank you to anyone taking the time to read this and please consider donating to Team Sousa and SAA. Proceeds will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Hospital for Children Cancer Center.