This is my second year of doing Swim Across America. 

Thunderstorms scratched the official swim last year. Still, my friend Charlotte and I didn't let that deter us. We swam our half mile in a neighboring lake after the storms passed that afternoon.

And despite cancellation of the scheduled swim, the 2023 event was still a big success. With your help, I raised more than $1,000, and collectively, the St. Louis area raised more than $300,000 for cancer research.

As you know, I'm swimming for my Papa Jim, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2016 and bravely fought the disease till he died in 2021. Papa Jim was kind-hearted, fun to be around, always willing to help, and friendly to everyone he met. 

I hope you'll support me again this year for my first official swim.