About this Atlanta Charity Sports Event

Swim Across America will bring its national presence to Atlanta in May 2013 for a two-day event to benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The Open Water Swim will be held in Lake Spivey, a private lake and home to Atlanta’s Olympian Gold medalist, Steve Lundquist on May 5, 2013. An Olympian swim clinic will be held the evening prior to the open water swim.

For more information please contact Jessica Kilgallen in the Children's Foundation at 404.785.7376.

About Swim Across America

Swim Across America is a grassroots organization with a national presence. Swim Across America holds dozens of community oriented open-water swims from coast to coast, each used to fundraise for local beneficiaries supporting cancer research, prevention and treatment. The organization is characterized by their desire to make a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer through their love for swimming. To learn more, visit www.swimacrossamerica.org.

The History Of Swim Across America

Swim Across American began in 1987 with one event in Nantucket, MA. They have grown to hold dozens of events from coast to coast and have raised over $40 million since inception.

More Information on the Atlanta Event

The Atlanta event was inspired by a courageous story of a good friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 5, by a local community need at the Aflac Cancer Center of CHOA to expand and expedite pediatric brain tumor research, and by the mission of Swim Across America to make an impact on our community through swimming. We will model our event similar to the 16 open water Swim Across America events that are currently being conducted annually across the country.  Our goal is to recruit a minimum of 25 teams, each raising a minimum of $5,000, who will make waves for cancer research with each team member swimming ½ mile, 1 mile, 5K, or 10K.  We will also host a pool event on May 4 in conjunction with an Olympian Swim Clinic at the Georgia Tech Recreation Center. We hope to match the individual and team donations with corporate sponsorship dollars, targeting $250,000 for our inaugural year.  Awards will be given to our top fundraisers and event champions, both in and out of the water. We hope to create a rewarding and fun-filled environment for participants and their friends and families that will be sustainable for many years.

In addition to the open water swim, we will host a tour at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder Center at CHOA, and a private dinner reception for our top fundraisers, volunteers, research doctors, and Olympians. We will also offer a learn-to-swim series for the 12 weeks leading up to the open water event.  The series will feature a chance to swim in the open water venue prior to event day. For more information on the swim series please reference "training opportunities" below. 

Event Timeline May 2013

May 4 – Olympian Clinic at the Georgia Tech Recreation Center and pizza party 7am-1pm

May 5 – SAA Open Water Event 7am-12pm

OPEN WATER Venue

• Located just 15 minutes south of the Atlanta airport, Lake Spivey is a private lake and home to Atlanta’s Olympian Gold medalist, Steve Lundquist.
• Safe courses that will include  ½ mile, 1 mile, 5K and a 10K option.
• Recreational area to include the following tents:  registration, SAA Why I SWIM, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorder info, breakfast, beverages, awards, sponsors, children’s games/activities, volunteer check in.

Please consider joining our Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Team!

Training Opportunities:

To learn more about the Swim Across America swim series, please contact Sheri.

To learn more about Concourse Masters, please contact Coach Blomberg

To learn more about Dynamo Masters swimming, please contact Maria.