Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
The Never Alone category is a division within St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound from Port Jefferson, Long Island, to Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The well-established charity swim raises as much as US$2 million per year to benefit individuals and families battling cancer.*
In the Never Alone category two of the relay swimmers take turns swimming side-by-side at the same time, representing the concept that one is never alone when someone is fighting cancer.
In 2016, Theresa’s Battleship was one of the relay teams in the Never Alone division. The relay included 59-year-old Polly Edwards, 55-year-old Ellen Finnigan, 58-year-old Cathleen Lozier, 55-year-old Sean O’Connor, 64-year-old Kathi Peck, and Dr. Bethamy Aronow with escort boat pilot Richard Langlois [shown above].
Because of the rough conditions, the event was completed under a contingency plan with 1-mile loops in a protected bay.
Theresa’s Battleship raised US$13,160 on behalf of Edwards’ niece, Theresa Fitzpatrick, who died from an aggressive cancer in 2013 when she was 19.
* World’s Highest Grossing Charity Swims
1. Maryland State Police Polar Bear Swim – US$2.01 million
2. 2013 St. Vincent’s Foundation Swim Across the Sound – US$2.0 million
3. 2011 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1.245 million
4. Nighttrain228 – US$1.2 million
5. 2012 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1.118 million
6. 2014 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1.105 million
7. 2005 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1.067 million
8. 2006 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1.065 million
9. 2010 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1.038 million
10. 2007 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$1,032 million
11. 2013 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$986,000
12. 2004 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$936,000
13. 2008 Swim Across America Long Island Sound – US$917,000
14. 2015 Mighty Mac Swim – US$432,000
15. 2015 Tampa Bay Frogman Swim – US$400,000+
16. A Long Swim Team – US$320,000+
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