Happy Holidays from the Swim!

Parcells & MacDonald To Triple-Cross the Channel
As if double-crossing the English Channel wasn’t enough, Dave Parcells and Marci MacDonald, top amateur marathon swimmers, have begun training for a triple-crossing of the Channel next August. Parcells and MacDonald have already received more than $100,000 in pledges for the Swim to undertake this challenge.

If they complete the swim, Parcells will be the oldest person to accomplish it at 45 and MacDonald will be the first woman to triple cross the Channel. They anticipate swimming 36 straight hours to complete the course.

Parcells double-crossed the Channel in 2002 and raised more than $100,000 for the Swim, while MacDonald was the first woman to do a double-crossing in 2001 and has made the most successful Channel swims of American females.

Swiss Army Sale Marches to Record Attendance
The crowds poured into the Trumbull High School gymnasium Nov. 7-9 to shop at the Swiss Army Warehouse Sale. About 10,000 shoppers filed through to buy Swiss Army products - watches, cutlery, clothing and luggage.

The sale recorded a record sales amount for the three days of which the Swim received a portion of the total sales. As a result of the sales, Swiss Army President Sue Rechner presented the Swim with a $36,000 donation.

Swiss Army Cancer Survivor Breakfast: Delectable
More than 400 cancer survivors filled the Holiday Inn Nov. 12 to celebrate their victory over their disease. Swiss Army also distributed a watch to each cancer survivor as a reminder of how precious time is.

Dan Rose, M.D., St. Vincent’s Chief of Cardiac Surgery and a cancer survivor, delivered an inspirational talk to the capacity crowd, reminding all survivors that they were part of a large support group and could rely on each other as well as the Swim for help.

Beatrice and Christine Somerville, a mother and daughter duet, belted out an excellent version of “Count On Me,” that set an inspirational tone to the event. Christine is a secretary at St. Vincent’s. John Plasko, owner of Plasko’s Farm in Trumbull, sponsored the breakfast through the funds he raised at his corn maze that drew crowds from September through October.

Car Raffle Tickets
Put the pedal to the metal and get your car raffle ticket to benefit the Swim and D’Addario Hypertension Programs in its second annual car raffle. The William B. Meyer, Inc. of Stratford and the Mario D’Addario Buick Pontiac GMC Nissan of Shelton donated the 2004 Pontiac Grand Am for the second consecutive year. The Swim will sell only 2,750 tickets at $20 each, which will raise a total of $55,000 to benefit both the Swim and D’Addario Hypertension Programs at St. Vincent’s.

The winner of this sleek and sporty car will be randomly selected at the eighth annual Swim Celebrity Breakfast February 11, 2004 at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport. For raffle tickets contact St. Vincent’s Foundation 203-576-5451.

Get Into the Spirit with a Swim Holiday Ornament
Hang the second annual Swim Holiday ornament on your tree. The Swim offers its second collectible, engraved holiday ornament. This high-quality golf metallic ornament depicts a holiday evergreen topped by interlocking Breast Cancer ribbons that remind us of the Swim's mission to help cancer patients.

The 4-inch ornament features the Swim logo and the year in gold, embossed on red ribbons. The name of the artist, Andrea Lynn McKeen is engraved on the back and hangs by a red satin ribbon.

The price is $15 for the ornament with all proceeds benefiting the Swim's 34 cancer education, prevention, and screening programs. To place your order, please call the St. Vincent's Foundation at 203-576-5451.

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk
The Swim welcomes new volunteers who want to make a difference in their community and the lives of cancer patients. All you need is compassion. To volunteer, e-mail your name, address and phone number to Diane Cardoso, dcardoso@svhs-ct.org or call the Foundation at 203-576-5451.

Rave Reviews for Prostate Cancer Institute Video
The new Prostate Cancer Video is available for any Swim supporters who desire a copy at no charge. It describes the important work the PCI offers to the community. This year, PCI will screen more than 800 men throughout the Greater Bridgeport area. The 10-minute video available on CD and tape features PCI chair Frank Morse, who presents a moving description of what PCI does as well as the COPES Committee, a minority subcommittee of the institute. The video traces the history of PCI and its vision for the future.

For a copy, contact St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation 203-576-5451 or e-mail your request to dcardoso@svhs-ct.org.

The Swim Sails into the Sunset
The views of Long Island Sound and the Fairfield County coastline were stunning as the Port Jefferson/Bridgeport ferry cruised on a Sunset Sail to nowhere to benefit Swim Across the Sound Oct. 18th.

About 200 supporters boarded the P.T. Barnum ferry to enjoy an evening with friends, delicious food and a rockin’ band. The first annual Sunset Sail raised more than $12,000 to support the Swim’s breast cancer programs. Kathy F. Young of Fairfield, chair of the Sunset Sail, described the sail as a fun time for a great cause. A band of pirates from Realistic Reenactments took the crowd hostage, forcing them to sing pirate songs.

The Port Jefferson/Bridgeport Steamboat Company donated the use of the ferry and the band to support the Swim. In addition, Mechanical Contractors of Southwestern Connecticut, Connecticut Distributors and Attorney Gerry McEnery of Fairfield were major sponsors.

Breast Cancer Luncheon Raises $150,000
Known as the “Guru of Laughter,” Joyce Saltman had the audience screaming with laughter during her keynote address at the Swim Breast Cancer Luncheon Oct. 17th at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport.

Saltman, a professor of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University, focused on the therapeutic value of laughter. Since 1983, Saltman has lectured on the importance of laughter and appeared on many syndicated TV talk shows.

Prior to the luncheon, a boutique with books, pocketbooks and accessories was available, which was chaired by Debby Bressler.

Daniel Passeri M.D. received the Robert D. Russo Sr. M.D. award for his important contributions to progressive and innovative surgical treatments of breast cancer.

Walking In Sunshine
The Sikorsky Walk to Fight Women’s Cancers drew hundreds of supporters September 21 at Captain’s Cove. Sikorsky management and Teamsters Local Union 1150 collaborated to organize the walk that raised $87,000.

Sikorsky Sr. Vice President of Human Resources Beth Amato and Teamsters Local Union 1150 President Joe Racan teamed up to raise support from both management and the rank and file. To commemorate cancer patients, walkers planted a Dogwood tree at the Cove. About 1,000 walkers covered the scenic 4-mile course along St. Mary’s by the Sea and through Black Rock.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Battle of the Bravest
Bridgeport Firefighters vs Hartford Firefighters will play a benefit hockey game at the Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport at 1 p.m. Dec. 7th to benefit the Swim. Tickets are $17.50, which admit you to the benefit game as well as the Hartford WolfPack vs the Bridgeport Sound Tigers game. The Swim will receive a portion of each ticket sold. For tickets, call the Sound Tigers 203-334-4625.

Swim Celebrity Breakfast
Be a celebrity waiter and have your friends tip you to raise funds for the Swim at the Celbrity Breakfast February 11, 2004. John DiMarco, president of Luigi’s of Bridgeport and John Matthews, chair of the Swim Fish Program, will co-chair the event. To sign up for your waiter’s apron and purchase a table, call the Foundation at 203-576-5451 or Luigi’s of Bridgeport, 203-374-4225.

Michael Amante Concert
America’s tenor Michael Amante will perform at the Concert Hall at Norwalk on January 17, 2004. The Eagles are sponsoring the concert that will benefit the Swim. For tickets, call 888-804-7488 and www.italianhouseparty.com.

St. Vincent's Medical Center's Swim Across the Sound is turning the tide against cancer.

The Swim has a unique mission to help cancer patients in need. The Swim raised $2.5 million in 2003 and helped 18,000 cancer survivors and their families throughout Southern Connecticut.

This is not a research program, but a charitable foundation dedicated to helping people on a case-by-case basis. The Swim has grown into a series of year-round activities focused on raising funds to underwrite 34 cancer education, screening and support group programs.