On July 29th I will be swimming the 5K as a part of Team Payne again!

Team Payne was started 19 years ago, in honor of my grandmother, 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 we swim in honor of Jane and Richard Payne, both cancer survivors, and in loving memory of Brian Payne, Lindsay Payne, William Finneran, Michelle Thompson and Jennifer Nabi. 

On November 12th 2022, my uncle 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 swim in honor of all of those who have also lost a parent, spouse, sibling, or friend to cancer.  We fight to live in a world with a cure.

Join us in #MakingWavestoFightCancer.