My first San Francisco Bay Swim Across America event was in 2015. I wanted to support a friend and raise money for pediatric cancer research. In 2016, I swam as a cancer patient myself, just six days after finishing chemo and six months after a double mastectomy. My relationship with cancer and Swim Across America changed. 

I now understood the force of the disease, the physical, emotional and mental anguish it causes, and the fear. Always the fear. How does a child survive that onslaught? 

I am swimming this year as a survivor, in good health and feeling strong. I am swimming to support UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland/San Francisco and the critical pediatric cancer research that happens here in Oakland, as well as the crucial, life-affirming Survivorship Program for pediatric cancer in San Francisco. I swim with the hope that pediatric cancers will be treated with a near perfect success rate in the near future.

If you are able to support my swim you will be donating to Swim Across America, which has raised over $100M to fund the next generation of pioneers in oncology and cancer-support care. It is an amazing, fiscally responsible organization. In particular, this event funds the two local programs mentioned above. You will be supporting children with cancer and their families in the Bay Area.

I would be very grateful for your support and for helping me to #MakeWavesToFightCancer. Thank you for your time and consideration!

Victoria