On Oct. 5 I will be swimming 2 miles for Swim Across America. Swim Across America has hosted charity swims with one goal: to raise money for cancer research that would lead to breakthrough treatments and therapies. Swim Across America has raised over $100M to fund the next generation of pioneers in oncology and cancer-support care. 

Melissa's STORY: 

I joined Swim Across America because a few week ago my mom, Melissa, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome or pre-leukemia severely lowering her platelet and white blood cell count. 

She received a double lung transplant at the peak of Covid in 2020 and has had to take many drugs to fight off rejection. Unfortunately, the drugs that are keeping her alive, are also the same drugs that progressed this rare form of cancer. She has started her chemo treatment and per her daily motto "is taking everything one breath at a time"

With your help we can fight off cancer "one donation at a time". Anything we can do to increase research and fight off this terrible disease is worth doing. 

I chose the team name Smokey Bear because fun fact - my mom used to work for the forest service and has a collection of well over 2000 Smokey Bear items and trinkets. She even has him tattooed on her ankle. 

Thank you for helping me #MakeWavesToFightCancer