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Every 15 minutes, 50 Americans are diagnosed with cancer. Each of us has been impacted in one way or another, including family members or friends, some of whom are unfortunately children.

This is why we're challenging each team participating in our annual John Strain Memorial Creek Invitational to help "Make Waves to Fight Cancer" and raise money for cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Help make a difference through swimming and diving!

EVENT INFO
ABOUT THE EVENT

WHAT: Dr. John D. Strain, a leader in the pediatric imaging community, died in 2018, after a courageous battle with advanced-stage esophageal cancer. A native of Denver, John was a highly regarded three-sport athlete at George Washington High School and began competitive swimming at age 4 and held every Colorado state record in freestyle throughout high school. John spent 33-years practicing pediatric radiology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He became Chief of the Division of Pediatric Radiology in the Department of Radiology, and Chair of Radiology in 1990, positions he held the rest of his career. In these roles, John built one of the top pediatric radiology teams in the country. Dr. Strain is survived by his wife Julie, and three sons - J.J., and twins James and Jonah. J.J. swam for Cherry Creek from 2014 to 2017 as a top breastroker in the state, and then went on to swim four years at Villanova University.

As part of the John Strain Memorial Creek Invitational, please join the Cherry Creek Bruins to help "Make Waves to Fight Cancer" along with Swim Across America-Denver to benefit Children’s Hospital Colorado. Swim Across America is a National non-profit that has raised over $115 million for cancer research & clinical trials through open water swims, pool swims & clinics throughout the USA! Our Bruin Swim & Dive Family has been participating since 2018 to Fight Pediatric Cancer in Colorado! All funds raised directly benefit pediatric cancer research & clinical trials at Children's Hospital Colorado's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, and since 2018 over $1.1 million has been donated. As teams and individuals, we will be competing in a positive manner both in and out of the water to make a tangible impact right here in our community!

WHEN: The John Strain Memorial Invitational Meet is April 19th & 20th at Cherry Creek High School, but we encourage teams to share this information with their swimmers, families and booster clubs prior to the meet and begin raising donations. As an additional option, teams can also hold fun individual team fundraising pool swims at their home pools as part of a practice during or after their season (see below for more information).

(NOTE: Teams can also hold fun individual team fundraising pool swims at their home pools as part of a practice during or after their season - see below for more information)

WHERE: Cherry Creek High School

HOW TO JOIN: If your team would like to participate, a team captain or representative will need to register their team, including providing a team name, by clicking on the register button in the middle of this page (next to the Donate & Volunteer buttons), then click “Start A Team”. Follow the required steps to get your team’s own fundraising page set up, add a team picture, and a message of why your team/who your team is making waves to help. Then post the URL provided to the team’s own site and encourage team members to send out to friends, family and alumni by email or text. Posting the link to your fundraiser on Facebook and Instagram is also highly encouraged to help boost your fundraising!

Any team that would like to hold their own SAA Pool Swim during their season or in the future can contact Eric Vitcenda. This past year, Cherry Creek, Rock Canyon, Boulder and Fairview high school teams, as well as several age group, summer league, Master’s and triathlon teams each held their own - it’s a great chance to give back to our community, and show that swimming really does make a difference in and out of the water!

FUNDRAISING: We encourage all swimmers and divers to each raise at least $50. Many will raise more but if each team member raises $50, our special event could raise thousands to support cancer research, prevention and treatment. And you can continue your team fundraising efforts through the end of the season, or consider swimming in our annual Swim Across America - Denver Open Water Swim fundraising event on August 17th as part of a team or individually.

QUESTIONS? Feel free to email Eric.