Winchester Residents Among Many Making Waves to Fight Cancer

Winchester Residents Nancy Jannarone Bigelow and Jacquline Cygelman took the fight against cancer to their own turf recently when they took part in Swim Across America. 

Last Saturday morning, Bigelow was among the throngs of swimmers at Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA taking part in the Swim Across America Event.

The Nantasket Beach swim features a recreational ½ mile swim as well as more advanced one-mile course for competitive swimmers. 

Bigelow, the Women’s Swimming Head Coach at Tufts University, will be participaing with the competitive swimmers along with a sizable contingent of Jumbos swimmers. Both current Tufts Men's and Women's swim team members as well as alums will be making the trip to Hull and using their swimming skills for a good cause. 

Five years ago, Swim across America approached the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and asked them if they would like to be a part of this event. The members of the conference, including Tufts, eagerly accepted the invitation and have completed every years sense. 

Now in it’s 25th year, Swim Across America is a series of swimming events that take place throughout the country, in oceans, lakes and pools, in which swimmers of every level raise money for cancer research, progressive survivorship clinics, as well as patient care and treatment.

“It’s a great way for our kids and our whole conference really to get involved,” said Bigelow. “I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been touched in some way by this disease.”

Bigelow estimated that the NESCAC Conference has raised nearly $200,000 for Swim Across America over the past five years. The teams in the Conference frequently battle it out for the top fundraising team. As of Friday, the Tufts team was atop this year's Team Honor roll for their stellar fundraising efforts. 

Unfortunately, the fight has taken on a more personal feel for Tufts this summer. The Jumbos team has rallied around Senior Captain Courtney Adams, whose mother is battling cancer and they have raised more than $20,000 on their own in honor of Deborah Adams.

The event has provided the Tufts team, Bigelow and everyone involved with the unique opportunity to be able to use the sport they all love to help support a worthy cause. 

“It’s just good to give back, and we’re happy that we can help in some way,” Bigelow said.

There are Swim Across America events throughout the country.

Bigelow urged anyone who might be interested in the event to visit the website and see how they can get involved. 

To learn more, please visit www.SwimAcrossAmerica.org.