Hello all – it is that time of year again. I am planning on participating in the Swim Across America pool swim at Meadowbrook in September to raise money for the Swim Across America Lab at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Hopkins in Baltimore.

I dedicate my swim this year in memory of long-time friend, Judy Griffing.  Judy and I met many (many) years ago, and shared lunches together in Hopkins Plaza in downtown Baltimore, she as a young loan officer at what was then Mercantile, and I as a (not as) young commercial lending lawyer, both working in very male dominated fields at that time.

Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer over twenty years ago; she went through chemo and other treatment, and lost all of her hair then.  She was not afraid (or if she was, she didn’t let on), to be seen without a bandana, or hat or wig as she moved about after her treatment was finished.  I remember thinking then how brave and positive she was about her recovery. Though we didn’t see each other very often, we were always in touch, and when she moved to Rehoboth we rekindled our friendship. A year and a half or so ago, her cancer returned – and with a vengeance.  Her suffering and her pain were great, and she succumbed this past November. As was evident at her memorial service in January, she was beloved by many, and remembered as a kind, caring and witty soul.

Judy’s story is just one of many, and this dedication is not intended to slight or pass over all of those others we have loved and lost since the last Swim.  Though Judy was not treated at Hopkins, the research that is done at the Swim Across America Lab at Hopkins funded through the Baltimore Swims benefits everyone touched by this disease.  As I have said before, I believe the Cancer Center is a good steward of the funds raised.  If you google Johns Hopkins Medicine Swim Across America Lab, you will ultimately find a year-by-year description (with specificity) of how funds have been used to establish clinical trials, and develop new drugs and treatment – and once you do, I hope you will feel good about the part you have had in this endeavor over the years by sponsoring me in this Swim. So many times I feel so helpless when I learn of someone’s new diagnosis, but then I remember this small bit I can do to help.  And I am very thankful for my health, and at 73, that I can still swim a mile.

I swim also

• in memory of those others who have died from cancer since the last swim, and in particular,  John Phelps, Chrissie Zito, Chris Weymouth. and Martha Duffy;
• In honor of all of those currently in the battle, and in particular, Joe F., Jeffrey W., Anne M., Blanche M.L., Lynda S., Ginny P., Cathy B, Barbie C, Marlene G., Annie N., Kristin M. and Dot and Debbie W.
• And, as always, in memory of Chris.

Susan Spence