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Swim Across America, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research using swimming events, has just gotten a $3 million charitable contribution from the Merck & Co. pharmaceutical company, also known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.
‘The Swim Across America mission is a testimony to the human spirit of coming together’
“Every 15 minutes, 50 Americans are diagnosed with cancer,” said Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America, according to Business Wire, adding that, “The good news is that there is hope for more Americans to become survivors than ever before, and Swim Across America’s commitment to finding new cures and treatments has been an important catalyst for that progress.”
“We are going to apply Merck’s contribution to better support our existing benefit swims and add new ones with a goal of funding $100 million into cancer research and clinical trials in the next decade.”
In additional support, Merck will also try to establish their own sponsored teams at the organization’s benefit swim events. In fact, Merck will start with the first 2018 Swim Across America event hosted in Tampa, Florida.
As Jill DeSimone, senior vice president of Merck, said in a statement, “Merck is committed to advancing research and to giving more families hope in the fight against cancer, and we know that that progress can only come from many people and organizations doing their part.”
“Swim Across America has created a program that has inspired thousands of Americans, including many Merck employees, to participate in their benefit swims with the proceeds funding cancer research and clinical trials. We know this contribution will help them do even more to fight cancer.”
Craig Beardsley, a 1980 Olympian and Swim Across America supporter, commented that, “I was at our first swim when we raised $5,000.”
“The Swim Across America mission is a testimony to the human spirit of coming together to try to solve a problem that has affected nearly everyone. Merck’s contribution is going to allow us to speed up our ability to add more swims so we can fund even more research projects.”
What can I do to help ‘Swim Across America?’
Even if you don’t live in the Tampa area, Swim Across America also hosts events in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Greenwich, Kiawah, Long Island, Nantucket, Rhode Island, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis and Tampa.
Tax-deductible donations can be made here. Added to that, anyone interested in discussing a bequest or naming Swim Across America in any estate planning, can contact Rob Butcher at 980-237-9127 or email.
