600+ Swimmers and Over $2 Million Raised for Local Beneficiaries.
LARCHMONT, N.Y., July 28, 2025 – Eleven elite open water master swimmers (four women and seven men) took on the ultimate endurance challenge Saturday morning, July 26, swimming 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) across Long Island Sound from Morgan Park in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, to the finish line at the Larchmont Shore Club in Larchmont, New York — all in support of Swim Across America’s mission to make waves to fight cancer. The 10k swimmers were joined by more than 600 2k and 5k swimmers who swam along the shore of Long Island from the Larchmont Yacht Club to the Larchmont Shore Club.
All three open water swim distances — 10k, 5k, and 2k, plus a ½-mile pool swim– were all part of the 33rd annual Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water event, which saw record-breaking participation and fundraising totals. The 615 total swimmers were supported by more than 250 land and water volunteers and cheered on by more than 2,000 spectators. The group effort helped raise an all-time high of $2,095,500.25 to benefit cancer research, clinical trials, and patient care at Swim Across America – Long Island Sound’s local beneficiaries, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Cancer Support Team.
“This year’s swim was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Jean Fufidio, Swim Across America – Long Island Sound event director. “We had a perfect day for swimming and more swimmers than ever before, crossing the $2 million milestone in a single swim for the first time in our 33-year history! Our 10K swimmers were a shining example of dedication, grit, and purpose — taking on the toughest course to support a cause that impacts us all.”
The 2025 10K swimmers included:
-
Adam Coe, age 45, of Rye, N.Y., who swam with Team Next Level Private and raised $5,000.
-
Ryan Feeley, age 33, of Harrison, N.Y., who is with the FDNY, swam with Team Payne in honor of Brian Payne. Ryan raised $5,364.
-
Team John!
Josh Glantz, age 57, of Scarsdale, N.Y., a co-captain of Team John, has swum in all 33 Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water swims since its founding in Westchester County in 1992. Josh is very proud that Team John, in all of its years of fundraising together, has surpassed raising $2 million this year. Josh, for his part, raised $6,076 on Saturday. For the 15th time, Josh was accompanied by his kayaker, Jeff Malsch. In 2018, Team John swam as Team Valerie for Jeff’s wife, Valerie, a Multiple Myeloma survivor.
-
Lindsay Hall, a 35-year-old Google employee from Brooklyn, N.Y., completed her first-ever 10K swim with Team Chelsea Piers Masters, raising $6,124.
-
Lucy Kappel, age 46, of Pelham Manor, New York, swam with Team Masters and raised $5,575.
-
Joseph Kaufman, age 57, of Scarsdale, N.Y., also co-captain of Team John and one of the top individual fundraisers for the swim, raised an incredible $39,466. Joe participated in his first Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water swim in 2003.
-
Aaron Kwittken, age 54, of Greenwich, Conn., a two-time skin cancer (melanoma and basal cell carcinoma) survivor and volunteer firefighter, swam with Team Mackey and raised $6,401. His sister is also a breast cancer survivor.
-
Kevin McCarthy, age 48, of Larchmont, swam with Team Masters and raised $5,000.
-
KC Middelmann, age 30, of New York City, raised $8,282.
-
David Reavy, age 58, of Larchmont, N.Y., swam with Team Masters and raised $20,410.
-
Krysten Sciacca, age 37, of Centerport, New York, raised $5,367.
The 10K swim is the longest and most grueling distance offered as part of the Swim Across America – Long Island Sound event and requires extensive training, mental fortitude, and determination. Each swimmer is evaluated before the swim to ensure they can endure the long distance, and they are paired with a partner kayaker to accompany them the entire crossing. They also have to raise a minimum of $5000 to qualify for the swim. The 10k swimmers leave the Larchmont Yacht Club by boat in the early morning at 5:30 a.m. and start their swim at Glen Cove, Long Island, where they swim across Long Island Sound, arriving at the Larchmont Shore Club with the rest of the 600 5k and 2k swimmers.
“What keeps us going across Long Island Sound is knowing that our journey isn’t nearly as tough as the journey someone takes when fighting cancer,” said Josh Glantz, a 33-year-old Swim Across America – Long Island Sound participant and co-founder of the Westchester swim. “Our swim is easy compared to what cancer patients have to go through; we are happy to make waves to fight cancer and fund critical cancer research so that more patients have the opportunity to live longer, healthier lives.”
Since its founding, Swim Across America – Long Island Sound has raised more than $31 million and is the largest and highest fundraising event for the national nonprofit Swim Across America. Nationally, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million for cancer research and treatment, supporting the funding of numerous clinical trials, and funds 60 cancer grants a year. The organization’s critical funding has helped move four cancer immunotherapy treatments––Keytruda, Opdivo, Tecentriq, and Yervoy––through FDA approvals, and these treatments are saving lives. Swim Across America is changing the way cancer is treated.
_________________
For those who would like to participate or learn more, there is a Swim Across America – Long Island Sound Pool Swim at the Lake Isle Club on Saturday, August 2, from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. To register, donate, or get involved, go here.
