Welcome to Team Payne
On July 27th Team Payne will once again take the plunge into Long Island Sound to swim for an important cause - fighting cancer. Cancer continues to impact our lives and our families every day. Even proactive Cancer screening test can instill anxiety and fear but remains part of the goal to ensure timely treatment.
History: Team Payne was started 20 years ago, by Tara Kupersmith in honor of her mother, Jane Payne. At the age of 46 Jane was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and given a short life expectancy. Against all odds she fought and lived another 30 years and in 2004, a year before her passing, Team Payne was founded in Jane’s honor. Each year we swim and fundraise in honor of a growing list of survivors and fighters. This year swim in honor of Jane and Richard Payne, both cancer survivors, and in loving memory of Brian Payne, Lindsay Payne, William Finneran, Michelle Thompson, Bill Starr, Jennifer Nabi, and David White.
In 2022, Brian Payne passed away after a two year battle with cancer. He was a loving husband, father, brother, friend, and a devoted member to the SAA community. Brian’s love for the cause was contagious and since the start of Team Payne it was a right of passage for his kids to join him in the annual open water swim once old enough. Brian led his life with integrity, bravery, and compassion; whether responding to a fire call, playing a men's league hockey game, or drinking a Budweiser at the bar, there was no one better to have by your side than Brian. We swim in honor of Brian and all others who have fought their own battles with cancer.
We are proud to support the cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering and give hope to cancer patients and their families. Cancer has taken too many lives too young. We fight to live in a world with a cure.
Join us in #MakingWavestoFightCancer.
Janet Payne Herbold
