Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer 2018

Last Saturday, October 6, 2018, I did my 21st Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer, a fund-raising swim to benefit the Women’s Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) in Berkeley, California.

The Swim took place at the beautiful pool at Mills College in Oakland, California.

This year, our team of 4, “Janet’s Angels” (Allison,Amy, Harriet, and me), swam in memory of our dear friend and Harriet’s daughter, Janet, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer last year, at the age of 42.  And, I personally swam in honor of 48 of your and my friends and family members who are surviving their cancers and in memory of 43 who have died of cancer.  

My personal sponsors generously donated nearly $5000 to the Women’s Cancer Resource Center. 

The Swim A Mile is an inclusive event that welcomes women, men and children to swim, or even walk, a mile in the water. We swimmers are put in lanes with others who swim at similar speeds and it all works out very well. It's a two-day well-organized annual event that the WCRC staff and its many many volunteers make work seamlessly.

There is always a lot of very good food to eat, music and cheering going on, and overall joy.  

This picture was taken early in the morning as breakfast food were being set out. 

WCRC's Board President, Penni Hudis, came to thank us for our participation. 

Here, Allison's son watches as Amy and Allison wait for their lane assignments.  

 

and, the rest of us join them to line up for lane assignments. 

At the far end you'll see Harriet and I getting ready to get into the water.

Harriet comes into a turn and I head on out.

Here are  “Janet’s Angels” after the swim; we’re wet, smiling, and showing off our achievement medals.

Most teams go into a huddle before their events.  But, not Janet's Angels; we rejoiced the completion of our swim with a huddle and some private congratulatory words!!!

Amy's kids congratulate her after the swim.

And, we did our interpretations of Wonder Women with WCRC's photographer.

More than 437 swimmers participated in this year’s Swim A Mile. $328,000 of WCRC’s fundraising goal of $400,000 has been raised. Donations towards this goal will be happily accepted through November 30, 2018; if you donate now, be sure to specify the name of the swimmer you are sponsoring.

The Swim-A-Mile for women with cancer is a special event for me and I feel honored to be able to raise funds for WCRC. 

Looking forward to swimming again in 2019!