Team KiDS originated in 2009 as Team Karen, soon after Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Head Coach Dan Levy lost his sister, Karen Marcum, after her long battle with colon cancer. Along with his assistant coach, Susannah Rudel, he began participating in the Swim Across America event to help raise money for cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment. The team grew from two swimmers to approximately 20 in those first few years that we swam at the Orienta Beach Club.    

          A year before Karen's passing, David Simon lost his battle with cancer. David was the father of two members of the swim team, Molly and Henry, both of whom would go on to become assistant coaches. David was also the husband of the then-Board President Judy Simon, and the team's unofficial photographer. The team was renamed Team Karen and David.   

            In 2012, Chappaqua Swim & Tennis began hosting a pool swim for Swim Across America. Since then, the event has grown to more than 130 participants annually while raising more than $500,000.00 to date. Several years ago, one of CST's swim team members, Max Chwatko, began Team BB (Brave Bunny) to support his sister, Scarlett, as she fought brain cancer. In 2019, 8-year-old Scarlett sadly lost her fight. Scarlett's courage and perseverance were inspirational to all who knew her.                                             

     Team Karen and David has combined with Team Brave Bunny to become Team Karen, David, & Scarlett or Team KiDS. The acronym is for the first names of these three remarkable individuals. Placed together, it is also for the amazing kids and their friends and families who come together every year to show how their love for swimming can make a difference in the ongoing fight against all forms of cancer.             

            In our lifetime, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer. We joined the SAA community so that, together, we can change that. We are challenging ourselves by swimming and raising as much money to fight cancer as we can. Please support us by sponsoring our swim and making a gift. The money you give will go towards cancer research, prevention and treatment and will make an impact in the fight to find a cure.  Thank you for your generosity and may it lead to a cancer-free world!

You can make a credit card donation by clicking on one of the members of our team below, or send a check to Swim Across America, PO Box 217, Larchmont, NY 10538.

Check should be made out to Swim Across America but please include a note mentioning our team or the swimmer you are supporting!