Nassau / Suffolk Long Island Open Water Swim

08.03.24

General Fundraising Requirements:

• 1/2 mile swimmers: $250 minimum
• 1 mile swimmers: $500 minimum for adults, $250 minimum for those under 18
• 2 mile swimmers: $750 minimum
• 5k swimmers: $1,000 minimum
• 10k swimmers: $5,000 minimum
• Family Fun Swim: Fundraising is optional, but encouraged.

WaveMaker Swimmer: $1,000 minimum:

WaveMakers are elite SAA fundraisers and go above and beyond the call of duty by pledging to raise at least $1,000 regardless of your age. You can sign up for any of the 3 distances. WaveMakers get an exclusive WM gift and access to the WM village on event day where they will have access to other perks and swag. Learn more about WaveMakers here.

10K Swim Option for 2024:

This year the 10K / 6.1 Mile option will take place at Pryibil Beach in Glen Cove. Participants will complete 6 loops of the 1 mile swim course. Swim cutoff time for the 10K is 3.5 hours.

Family Fun Swim

Now even the youngest kids can make a big splash. Children up to age 11 can participate by splashing a short distance along the beach. Parents are welcome to join in and must accompany non-swimmers or those under age 6. Registration is $50 and each registered participant receives a shirt, towel and swim cap. There is no fundraising minimum for Family Fun swimmers. However, they are encouraged to fundraise if they would like! Please follow the steps at the top of the page and click 'in-person swimmer' to get kids registered and help make waves to fight against cancer!

Swim as an Individual, or on a Team:

A person may elect to swim alone, or be part of a team. Many work colleagues and college alumni will form teams to join forces in the fight against cancer. We have many teams formed by friends and family in honor or memory of a loved one. All teams are inspirational and rewarding for all of us involved with Swim Across America.

We welcome all Teams of ANY Size. 2 people and up!

• If a team raises $2,500 or more, then the team will get formal recognition in Nassau/Suffolk Long Island Journal and at the event.
• If a team raises $5,000 or more, then the team will also receive a Full page Team Recognition in the Nassau/Suffolk Long Island Journal, and a Team Banner and Plaque at the Swim Event

Angel Swimmers

For those who are hesitant about swimming in open water, we are happy to provide an “angel swimmer” to swim the course alongside you. Angel swimmers are experienced open water swimmers who encourage you, keep an eye on you and support you during your swim. If you think you may benefit from having an angel swimmer, please respond yes to the question presented in online registration. You may also reach out to Kevin Shine to answer any questions.

Distance Options:

• 0.5 Mile
• 1 Mile
• 2 Mile
• 5K
• 10K
• Family Fun Swim

Registration Self-Donation:

Swimmers will be asked to kickstart your fundraising and let your supporters know you are personally committed to the mission of SAA. The registration self-donation is a 100% tax deductible donation that will be will be credited towards each swimmer's fundraising minimum. The registration self-donation for the Family Fun Swim is $50. The minimum self-donation amount for all other distance options will change as follows:

• Register before May 6 with a registration fee of $50
• Register between May 6 and July 14 with a registration fee of $75
• Register between July 15 and event day with a registration fee of $100

Online registration will close 48 hours prior to the swim! Event day registration may still be available if space permits.

Wetsuit Policy, Rentals and Purchases:

Water temperature can vary. Please read our full wetsuit policy and tips on our Policies Page.

Online Wetsuit Purchase: Orca is an SAA wetsuit partner offering a 20% discount and entry to win a $500 gift card when you shop through our SAA Orca link.

Online Wetsuit Rental: Kit Lender is offering a 10% discount off any Wetsuit or Kit rental. Wetsuit rentals start at just $42/event. Orders placed at least 7 days in advance include free roundtrip shipping. Orders can typically be placed up to 2 days before the event. Get started HERE.

Waiver:

All swimmers and volunteers must complete the waiver that will be found HERE. Please bring it with you to the event and provide at check in.

Swimmer Safety Packet:

Please review the 2024 SWIMMER AND VOLUNTEER INFO PACKET before the event. It contains important information about the schedule, what to expect and what to bring.

Proceeds from the swim support research at the Swim Across America Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Swim Across America Laboratory at Weill Cornell Cancer Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Feinstein Institute of North Shore the University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital and SHARE Cancer Support.

Read the 2023 SAA-Nassau-Suffolk Impact Report here.

Special thank you to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for hosting a panel discussion with with the young investigators whose groundbreaking research is funded by SAA grants. Watch the full video and learn more about your impact below.

The goal of the Swim Across America laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is to develop new approaches to cancer treatment through stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells. Results from our laboratory are the basis of ongoing clinical trials at MSKCC in patients with melanoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer and lymphoma. The lab has been one of the most successful in the world at moving lab discoveries into the clinic. The SAA lab was instrumental in the development of the first Melanoma US FDA-approved drug in 13 years. Read the MSKCC thank you letter to hear directly from our funded researchers.

The Swim Across Research Laboratory at Weill Cornell Cancer Center, led by Dr. Taha Merghoub, conducts immunotherapy research and clinical trials. Read the Weill Cornell thank you letter to hear directly from our funded researchers.

We have been funding the important non small cell lung cancer research of Rafaella Sordella, PhD since 2008 at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Her lab has been able to identify a subpopulation of cells that are intrinsically resistant to both conventional and targeted therapies and are more metastatic. At the molecular level they have determined that increased activation of the TGF-beta-IL-6 axis is driving all these phenotypes. Important drugs targeting teh IL-6 signaling pathway are currently available. They are now focused on seeking to understand the efficacy of these drugs in a pre-clinical model, that will hopefully lead to the development of new lung cancer clinical trials. Read the CSHL testimonial to hear directly from our funded researchers.

In 2011 we began assisting in the funding of a pediatric brain cancer project directed by Marc Symons, PhD at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research of North Shore. Current therapies for the most common malignant childhood brain tumor, medulloblastoma in particular radiation therapy have long term side effects, including marked nerocognitive difficulties. Marc's lab has initiated a program to identify medulloblastoma radio-resistance genes and characterize their functions. Hopefully the identified radio-resistance genes will provide us with new drug targets for the development of more effective therapies for medulloblastoma. Read the Feinstein Institute at North Shore testimonial to hear directly from our funded researchers.

Swim Across America has been funding the 'Stacey Leondis Fellowship' - research into the development of a targeted therapy for osteosarcoma, an adolescent bone cancer supervised by Dr. Richard Gorlick at Children's Hospital at Montefiore, since 2006. SAA-Nassau-Suffolk will continue funding Dr. Gorlick's research now that he is the division head and department chair of Pediatrics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. Read the MD Anderson Cancer Center testimonial to hear directly from our funded researchers.

What is SAA MY WAY?

SAA My Way is our virtual offering where you decide your activity and timeline. Register with a $50 self-donation and we’ll send you an SAA Swag Bag to show off your spirit. All donations raised for your My Way will support our SAA-Sound to Cove event. Click here to learn about all the ways you can have fun your way!

To sign up as an SAA My Way participant for our event, click the register button above and select 'SAA My Way' as your participation type.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Swim Across America Family ensuring our event run smoothly from beginning to end. Even if you aren’t a swimmer, you can still help us in the fight against cancer. Don’t forget, volunteers can fundraise too if they want! Ready to volunteer with us? Click on the Register button and select the Volunteer participation type.

Land Volunteers

Land Volunteers staff all aspects of our event on land. You can anticipate helping with set up, swimmer check-in, finish line support, hospitality and post-swim events/clean up.

Water Volunteers

Water volunteers consist of kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders and boaters that provide crucial logistical and safety support to our event officials and for our swimmers. They will monitor the swim lane, keep an active eye on all our swimmers and communicate any swimmer issues to our event officials.

Angel Swimmers

Angel Swimmers are experienced open water swimmers who are willing to accompany a nervous swimmer throughout the course. Angel swimmers must be able to swim all distances and help out if the swimmer needs. To register as an angel swimmer, choose “volunteer” and then select Angel Swimmer. The local planning team will have final approval of angel swimmers.

Questions about volunteering? Check out our SAA Volunteer Page or contact Kevin Shine.

If this is your first time participating or if you just need some tips to be a better fundraiser, click here. It will walk you through the participant center and teach you how to email donors, share on social media sites and download the fundraising app. You can find more helpful resources on our fundraising resources page.

NEW! Watch these instructional videos to learn how to register, update your participant center, connect to Facebook and more!

Be a WaveMaker by taking your fundraising to the next level and raising $1,000! Anyone can achieve WaveMaker status - swimmers, volunteers or SAA My Way participants. WaveMakers get special recognition and an exclusive WM gift on event day. You can learn more about WaveMaker Status here.

You may support the swimmer of your choice by making an online donation. Or you may send a check, payable to Swim Across America, to the address below:

Swim Across America
c/o Kevin Shine
165 Weyford Terrace,
Garden City, NY 11530

Make sure to include a note with the name of the swimmer you are donating to.

SAA Safety & Policies:

Participant safety is the most important component of all our events. All swimmers will be asked to follow specific safety procedures and policies to participate, as well as comply with SAA safety personnel, including local and government entities, Lifeguards, and water safety volunteers. Participants are responsible for adequately preparing for their registered event. We ask that all participants review the information packet provided in advance of event day, as well as attend the day-of safety briefing for important safety information.

Waiver:

All swimmers and volunteers must complete the waiver found here.

If you have questions about our policies regarding inclement weather, swim equipment or wetsuits, please consult our Policies page.

SOUND TO COVE (GLEN COVE, NY) - Pryibil Beach, Glen Cove, Long Island
Sunday - August 3, 2024
EVENT DAY TIMELINE

Schedule is tentative and subject to change. 

STC Timeline - Updated for 2024
5K, 2 Mile, 1 Mile, 0.5 Mile Swims Start on the Pryibil Beach Beach

5:00 - 7:00 AM: Pryibil Beach Pavilion - SAA Village Registration/Check-In
-5:00 AM Safety Team arrive / 5:30 AM Volunteers arrive - Check-in & ready for Swimmer Arrival
-5:45 AM: Water/Land Volunteer Meeting and Assignments (Pryibil Beach Pavilion Area)

6:00 AM: Swimmer Registration Opens. Swimmers must arrive by 6:30 AM. Registration closes promptly at 7:00 AM.

6:30 AM : 10K Swim Briefing (Pryibil Beach)

6:45 AM : 10K Swim Start (Pryibil Beach) - With Kayaker and Jetski with 2 Operators

7:00 AM: MANDATORY FOR ALL: Water Safety Meeting (Pryibil Park Beach, Finish Arch)
-Water Volunteers, Lifeguards, 1st Responders, Kayakers, Angel Swimmers

7:15 AM: ALL Gather for Pre-Swim Program - National Anthem (Pryibil Beach)

7:30 AM: 5K Swim Briefing (Pryibil Beach)

7:45 AM: 5K Swim Start (Pryibil Beach)

7:50 AM: 2-Mile Swim Briefing (Pryibil Beach)

8:00 AM: 2-Mile Swim Start (Pryibil Beach)

8:15 AM: 1-Mile Swim Briefing (Pryibil Beach)

8:30 AM: 1-Mile Swim Start (Pryibil Beach)

8:35 AM: 0.5-Mile Swim Briefing (Pryibil Beach)

8:50 AM: 0.5-Mile Swim Start (Pryibil Beach)

9:00 AM: Family Fun Swim (9 - 9:30AM)

10:00 AM: ALL Swimmers Out of Water

Brief Program Following Swim

LOCATION FOR 2024:

Pryibil Beach
Glen Cove, NY 11542

Interested in being a SAA - Nassau-Suffolk Partner?

If you'd like to learn more about partnership opportunities, please review this Partnership Guide or email us.

If you'd like to get involved, but aren't quite ready to jump in the open water, come to one of our public pool events where you can swim at your own pace and select your own distance. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Comedy Show at Governor's Comedy Club

Comedy Show at Governor's Comedy Club
Date: January 28, 2024

Nassau County Swim and Dive Invitational

Nassau County Aquatic Center
Date: September 7, 2024

Lynbrook Pool Swim

Lynbrook Pool
Date: July 26th

Great Neck Swim

Great Neck South Middle School Pool
Date: September 28, 2024

St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans Stride

St. Thomas Aquinas College
Date: 2024-2025 Academic Year

Many of our local clubs and teams provide pool swims for their members and their guests. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Centerport Yacht Club Swim

Centerport Yacht Club
Date: July 25, 2024

Huntington Yacht Club Virtual Swim

Huntington Yacht Club
Date: August 15, 2024 - September 15, 2024

Douglaston Club Swim Team

Douglaston Club
Date: July 26, 2024

North Hempstead Country Club

North Hempstead Country Club
Date: July 19, 2024

Rockville Pool Swim

Rockville Pool
Date: July 22, 2024

South Side Pool Swim

Nassau County Aquatic Center
Date: TBA 

Cold Spring Harbor Pool Swim

Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club
Date: July 24, 2024

Team Suffolk Pool Swim

Team Suffolk Pool
Date: TBA 

Long Island Aquatic Club Pool Swim

LIAC locations
Date: October 1st-30th, 2024

St. Agnes CYO Pool Swim

Nassau County Aquatic Center
Date: February 4, 2024

IN THE NEWS

Here are some recent stories that display the impact members of the Swim Across America family have had in the Nassau/Suffolk-Sound to Cove Community.

Swim Across America Nassau Suffolk - Pryibil Beach 2022.