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!

ONCE AGAIN, THE ANNUAL SWIM-A-MILE FOR WOMEN WITH CANCER!

On October 3, 2017, I swam the Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer, a benefit for the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, California (WCRC).

This was my 20th year to do the swim.

For my team of four, "Janet's Angels" (Harriet, Allison, Amy, and me in the photo above), this was a bittersweet swim.  

We all were swimming in memory of our dear friend, and Harriet's daughter, Janet, who passed away at the end of May after 10 years with metastatic breast cancer.

Janet has swum with us for the past several years and we miss her.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, our team has raised close to $9,000 for WCRC, and, I personally have raised nearly $5,000.  Those who sponsored us are friends of Janet and also have their own friends and family who have been touched by cancer.  

For my sponsors I swam in memory/honor of close to 100 people who have been touched by cancer. 

These are some photos from the Swim A Mile.  At the end of this post, I've included a tribute to Janet, with photos of Janet and some links to videos that include her.

Team "Janet's Angels" with "Janet ♥" written on our backs  

Harriet and Amy getting ready to swim

My list of those I and my sponsors remember and honor

The Swim a Mile Memory/Honor board

Harriet finishes her swim

Just as happy after the swim

Allison enjoys an after-Swim massage.  WCRC takes very good care of Swim A Mile participants

As always, there is plenty of delicious food to enjoy before and after the Swim

 Amy receives her medal

Harriet has been swimming with me for 10 years.

 

I celebrate with Christine Sinnott, WCRC's wonderful Swim A Mile Coordinator

The Swim goes on for two full days in the beautiful Mills College pool.  About 500 people swam this year.

 

REMEMBERING JANET:

Janet's first Swim a Mile with me and Harriet 2013

Janet's 40th Birthday Party, 2014

Janet's Creative Way to Deal with Hair Loss from Chemotherapy

Janet at Swim A Mile 2016

Our 2016 swim team of Pam, me, Janet, and Amy

Enjoying food samples at the Winter Fancy Food Show, January, 2017. Food and wine were among Janet's passions.

VIDEOS FEATURING JANET:

A presentation at the 2016 Exponential Medicine Conference in San Diego, CA.

"With You by Thousand Days featuring Janet Sollod, a music video. 

Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer October 2016

For the 19th year, I swam the Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer, a fundraising event for the Women's Cancer Resource Center (WCRC) in Oakland California. The Swim takes place on the first weekend of October each year.

 I swam in Honor of 47 people and in Memory of 37 people.  Those I honor/remember are friends and family of those who sponsor my swim. Many are my personal friends and family

My team of five, "Beverly's Angels" were Pam, Amy, Janet, Harriet, and me.

The weather was threatening at times, with showers every so often.  But, as long as there is no thunder or lightning, swimmers have no problem with raindrops...we are quite wet already!

After the swim, here are the four of us feeling very accomplished.  Team member Harriet was not able to swim this year but became our official photographer and cheerleader.

We all got GOLD MEDALS for our accomplishments!

And, then, we enjoyed the good food and company on the lawn by the pool.

Many thanks to all who sponsored me in the Swim A Mile.  So far, I've raised over $3000 for WCRC and know that more donations will be coming in.

Looking forward to Swim A Mile 2017!!!

SWIM A MILE 2015

Last weekend was the 20th annual Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer, a two-day event to raise funds for the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, CA.  

This was my 18th Swim A Mile and I raised over $2700 with sponsorships from friends and family. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I swam with Harriet, Janet, and Amy. The four of us were a team called "Beverly's Angels." Our team raised over $7300 and we know more donations will be coming in over the next few weeks (donate online at wcrc.org, click on the Swim a Mile button and search by name for "your" swimmer).

Here we are, ready to dip our toes (and heads) into the pool.

The swim takes place in the beautiful Mills College Pool in Oakland, CA.

We all did the mile in well under an hour. Here's Harriet on her victorious finish.

This year, I swam in honor of 40 people and in memory of 28 people. This is the board where we swimmers post the names of those we honor/remember.

Something new this year was that everyone who completed the swim was personally awarded a very nice medal. We really felt honored.

With wet heads and swim suits, we savored our accomplishment.

And, then, we dug into the array of tasty food and enjoyed some time together.

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Until next year, Beverly's Angels!!!