Swim Across America-Denver’s inaugural event

Story and photos by
Pam Cress

Swim Across America Inaugural Swim and VIP Reception

at Cherry Hills Country Club benefiting Childrens Hospital Colorado at 5:00 reception

What a miracle it is that we are now thinking about the side effects for pediatric cancer patients when they are 60 or 70 years old. Children’s Hospital Colorado is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, treatments and successes, bringing hope and happiness to young people with cancer and their families.

Enter Swim Across America, whose mission is to unite the swimming community by hosting benefit swims that raise money to fund life-saving cancer research and clinical trials.

15 Olympians and other supporters visited Denver this weekend to participate in the inaugural Denver swim event at Chatfield Reservoir and to visit cancer patients at Children’s Hospital Colorado Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. A reception was held at Cherry Hill’s Country Club the evening before the swim to welcome everyone.

The swim event included half-mile, one-mile, and 5K swims, along with a Balloon Splash for less experienced swimmers who wanted to jump in on the fundraising. Participants swam individually or as part of a team to honor friends or family touched by cancer.

Camaraderie and good cheer was in the air at the reception, where Olympians and Swim Across America staff and supporters discovered that the same resilience and competitive spirit that Olympians have is just what brings cancer patients through their ordeal.

2012 and 2016 Olympic champion Missy Franklin helped to interview her “new best friend” Teagan Gorney and Lauren Alfino (CHC cancer survivors/ambassadors), along with Dr. Amanda Winters and Dr. Kelly Maloney. Emcee Matt Renoux of 9News put on his wet suit to celebrate the occasion. Swim Across America President and CEO Rob Butcher, Dr. Lia Gore and Denver event director Nicole Vanderpoel also thanked supporters.

The “Make Waves To Fight Cancer” is definitely making a difference–not only today, but it seems in decades to come.

: SAA Denver event coordinator Nicole Vanderpoel, center, with her daughters Maddie and Vee

: Elizabeth Nowak (board member), left, with Ann Mann

: Mike Mintenko (Olympian, 2000, 2004), Lindsay Mintenko (Olympian, 2000, 2004) and Andrew Gemmell (Olympian, 2012)

: Klete Keller (Olympian, 2000, 2004, 2008), left, Michael Mann (board member) and Steve Kahl (board member)

: Heather Petri (Olympian, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), left, with Jessica Vitcenda (board member)

: Doug Gjertsen (Olympian, 1988, 1992), left, and Bill Vanderpoel (board member)

: SAA President and CEO Rob Butcher, left, Dr. Joseph Conrad, Ashley Whitney (Olympian, 1996) and Elizabeth Beisel (Olympian, 2008, 2012, 2016)

: Keith and Clare Dawson, left, and James Paz

: Brandon Kahl, left, Jack Kahl, Raina Maslowski and Jen Burge

: Richard Levine, left, Susan Helmrich (SAA San Francisco director), Ryan Baucom and Jenna Stevenson

: Hayes Johnson, left, Missy Franklin (Olympian, 2012, 2016), CHC Ambassador Teagan Gorney and Evan Gorney

: Susan von der Lippe (Olympian, 1980, 1984, 1988), left, and Ann Macartney

: Craig Hagler, left, and Lance Wright

: Matt Renoux of 9News with his wife Kelley and daughter Sonnett

: Heather Hagedorn, left, Brian and Nancy Wixted (board)

: Cress Coffman, left, John Coffman and Jessica Vitcenda

: Wendy Bank, left, and Dr. Taru Hays

: Ann and Jerry Healey

: Ted Eynon, left, and SAA co-founder Matt Vossler

: Greg Scott, (board), left, Klete Keller (Olympian, 2000, 2004, 2008) and Holden Bank

: Layne Bro, left, and Brickelle Bro (Olympian, 2012, 2016)

: Elizabeth Beisel (Olympian, 2008, 2012, 2016), left, Kara Lynn Joyce (Olympian, 2004, 2008, 2012), DA Franklin and Hannah Hesse

: Gisella Cianci, left, and Jenny Hanley

: Lainie and Chris O’Sullivan

: Jessica and Eric Vitcenda, left, Amy DiCarlo, Lindsey Latham and Jarred Vitcenda

: Mary Ann and Larry Harper, left, Teagen Gorney (CHC Ambassador) and Bill Vanderpoel (board)

: Amy and George DiCarlo (Olympian, 1984)

: Kelly Seavall, left, John Sheridan, Mary Baur

: Bob and Sky Yost

: Tripp and Ann Kerr, left, and Jennifer and Thad Wharton

: Roster of Olympians

: Kelly Seavall, left, and Nicole Vanderpoel

: Emcee Matt Renoux, 9News

: Matt Renoux makes a point

: SAA Co-Founder Matt Vossler

: SAA President and CEO Rob Butcher

: Rob Butcher talks about the mission of SAA. “Every year around Christmas, our budget goes down to zero, because we give all of it to charity,” he said. They have given over $5 million in grant checks.