Swim Team Friends,

We wanted to let you know that today we accomplished something pretty great.

You may recall the emails we have sent about our philanthropy focus this year - raising money to fund lifesaving cancer research and clinical trials by partnering with Swim Across America. Today we hosted a “fun” practice for our team, asking for $5.00 donations from each participant, in which swimmers and coaches participated in relay races, pool games and other team-building activities. PLUS, we sold items through a bake sale in which some of our swim families made wonderful treats for attendees to enjoy.

• Thanks to your generosity, our team raised $800.00 this year – a 70% increase over 2019 fundraising efforts!
• But that’s not all...
• The Mountaire Park Pool Board heard about our efforts, and they matched 100% of our profits.
• Therefore, our giving totals $1,600.
• Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It’s important that we all understand the impact we make as a community participating in an event like this. Perhaps Mindy Pauly, Barracuda parent and Pediatric Oncologist at CHOA, truly says it best:

“Dear Barracuda family,

For over 35 years Swim Across America has been an instrumental part of the battle against cancer, including childhood cancer. Every year, over 500 children are diagnosed with cancer and treated at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Significant progress has been made over the past 40 years in treating childhood cancer bringing survival rates up to 80% through research and clinical trials; clinical trials funded by organizations like Swim Across America. While an 80% survival is great, it is not enough. We won’t stop until it’s 100% and Swim Across America won’t either.

I spend my research time making new cancer therapies available through clinical trials to children with relapsed leukemia. It’s my honor to have one of these trials funded by Swim Across America. To be clear, this means because of your generous giving, a child may have access to a medication here in Atlanta that they would not otherwise have.

Many of you in our community have been touched by someone with cancer, some have even known a child with cancer; a child who has had to be brave beyond his or her years. Each one of these children deserves a lifetime of memories and by participating in this event, you are helping that happen!

Thank you so much for your generosity. It is appreciated beyond words.

Mindy Pauly

Mother of Ellis (9/10 girl) and Hadley (13 yo spectator)

Pediatric Oncologist, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Service at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta”

A heartfelt thank you to Mindy for all that she does to care for children with cancer and the therapy research she does to help prevent and find a cure. We also want to thank our Co-Philanthropy Chairs Andrea Murray & Moira Clark who made today possible along with the incredible families that contributed baked goods to this wonderful event…everything from lemon bars and Swedish fish brownies to cinnamon rolls, pancakes and rice krispy treats!

And of course, a special thanks to the Mountaire Park Pool Board and our swim team family for demonstrating thoughtfulness, generosity, and humility. We are such a fortunate swim team community, and we appreciate the opportunity to donate money to the cause of one day curing the children and adults who can’t swim.

Thank you for sharing your sunshine. Check out the attached flyer with highlights from today's event!

Have we mentioned, we love swimming with you?!

Amber Cooley & Brooke Brown