Dear Friends and Family,

Too many of us have been hurt by the pain cast on us caused by cancer. I've witnessed too many fight their own battles, seen it devastate lives and take loved ones. The hardest personal loss I've suffered was several years ago when cancer stole my mom from me.

Each summer, I swim with Team Stacey in the American Cancer Society’s Swim Across America to honor Stacey Leondis, my former student. It has been 16 years since Stacey passed. She was a beautiful, smart and exuberant young woman diagnosed with osteosarcoma when she was 16 years old and passed away at the young age of 23.  During those seven years, she started the FOSTER Foundation (fighting osteosarcoma through everyday research), graduated high school, graduated Yale University and was accepted to Mount Sinai medical school. 

I participate for Stacey, my mom, and for so many families and friends who have and are battling cancer.

This year, I am challenging myself to swim TWO miles (twice as far as I have done in the past!) with perseverance and strength to honor all our loved ones. In addition, I’ve accepted the challenge to be a ‘wavemaker’ and raise $1000 for this swim! 

Please help me raise funds for cancer research- for those we've lost, for those in treatment and for all survivors!

I am so grateful to those of you who have so generously donated in the past and appreciate any amount that you are able to donate.

We need to continue our fight against cancer!

~Monique​