The Swim Breast Cancer Luncheon Raises Record $200,000
Swim Breast Cancer Luncheon Co-Chair Joyce Riccio welcomed a packed house of more than 500 at the Holiday Inn on Oct. 7th in Bridgeport with the news that this year’s event raised a record $200,000.

The audience broke into applause at the good news that the money would help deliver mammograms along with many other breast cancer services to thousands of women throughout the community for the coming year.

Former UConn and WNBA star Rebecca Lobo, the luncheon’s featured speaker, summed it up: “The Swim Breast Cancer Luncheon does great work. My mother, who is an eleven-year cancer survivor, and I thank the Swim on behalf of all women. You’re doing important work.”

Breast Cancer Luncheon Co-Chair Barbara Massaro introduced Lobo who entertained the audience with her warmth and sense of humor. Massaro said Lobo epitomized the spirit of the Swim with her charitable work. Lobo recounted how her mother managed to cope with her breast cancer with the love and support of her family. She also divulged that she was seven months pregnant with her first child.

Anne “Nan” Persico, R.N. received a special award for her outstanding work with cancer patients in the St. Vincent's Medical Center infusion center, which was presented by Peter Steenbergen, M.D., Fairfield County Radiology Associates.

In addition, funds raised through the Breast Cancer Luncheon helped fund the Swim Across the Sound Women’s Imaging Center in St. Vincent's Medical Center, which opened in June. The Swim continues to address the unmet needs of the community through its Mobile Mammography van. The white van with the Swim logo and pink cancer ribbon painted on the sides is constantly on the road, bringing mammography screenings to women at community centers, corporations, churches, housing facilities and places of business.

Susan L. Davis, R.N. Ed.D, St. Vincent’s Medical Center President & CEO, presented certificates of appreciation to the Breast Cancer Luncheon Honorary Chairs, who were the wives of the area Selectmen and Mayor of Bridgeport.

Sam Small received special thanks from the Swim for his generous contribution of pink baseball caps with the breast cancer ribbon on the front panel, which everyone received attending the event. In addition, Kathy Young was recognized for her organizing the second Swim Sunset Sail aboard the Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Ferry that raised about $35,000 in support of the Breast Cancer Luncheon.

A silent auction prior to the luncheon was a great success with supporters purchasing every item up for sale. Breast Cancer Luncheon Co-Chair Debra Testa closed the event by thanking the audience for their generosity. “Your attendance and support and the generosity of our sponsors helped fund the most successful luncheon on record, which, in turn, will help cancer patients. For that we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts,” Testa said.

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Smooth Sailing on the Swim Sunset Sail
More than 300 Swim supporters boarded the Port Jefferson/Bridgeport ferry October 2 on a Sunset Sail to nowhere to benefit the Swim.

On a beautiful fall evening, the crowd enjoyed fine food and beverages and the rockin’ sound of the band, “Steel House.” The second annual Sunset Sail raised a record $35,000 to benefit the Swim’s Breast Cancer Programs.

Kathy Young, the Sunset Sail chair, applauded the support of sponsors and individuals for making the event an overwhelming success. More than 40 companies and individuals also contributed items to the silent auction.

“I’m thrilled the Sunset Sail was a great success again this year,” Young said. “Long Island Sound is a fantastic venue for a fund-raiser and Swim Across the Sound is an organization providing important services for our community. We were able to enjoy a fun event and still help women in our community who need breast cancer services, which is why we all get involved.”

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, Young explained.

Milford’s Celebrations by Carlson provided the catering and the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company donated the use of the ferry and the musical entertainment. Other major event sponsors included Lexus of Westport, Feroleto Steel, Mechanical Contractors of Southwestern Connecticut, Connecticut Distributors and Sinoway & McEnery, PC

“We’re glad to offer the use of our vessel for such a worthy cause,” said Fred Hall, vice president and general manager of the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. “For about three hours, we gave passengers an experience we know they’ll never forget against the backdrop of Long Island Sound at sundown.”

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Get into the Driver Seat
Vazzy’s Restaurant will host a kickoff cocktail party Nov. 1 for Swim supporters who have volunteered to sell raffle tickets for the third annual Swim car raffle. Heidi Vazzano, Car Raffle Chair, will be the hostess of the cocktail party where supporters can pick up books of raffle tickets.

This year’s car is an elegant smoke gray 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL, which was donated by Tom D’Addario of the D’Addario Buick, Pontiac, Nissan, GMC and Chuck Mattes of the William B. Meyer Co. The money raised from the raffle will equally benefit the Swim and the D’Addario Hypertension Program.

Raffle tickets are $25 and are available through the St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation and the Seton Gift Shop in the lobby of the Medical Center. Anyone interested in selling raffle tickets or purchasing one should call the Foundation at 203-576-5451.

Displaying the Pink Ribbon on Your Car
Swim Across the Sound is helping to raise breast cancer awareness on the area roads with pink magnetized ribbons to display on your car.

The Swim is selling the attractive magnetized ribbons with the Swim logo and catch phrase: “Turning the Tide Against Cancer” for $3. You can show your support for all the Swim breast cancer programs by purchasing one. Click here to see a larger picture of the ribbon »

They also make great gifts for friends and family members. To purchase your Swim pink magnetized ribbon, call St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation at 203-576-5451.

Almost Time for the Swiss Army Warehouse Sale
Time is ticking down for the Swiss Army Brands Warehouse Sale in the Trumbull High School gymnasium Nov. 5-7th.

The sale will feature the finest Swiss Army products at dramatically slashed prices, including cutlery, watches, men’s and women’s clothing, luggage, binoculars, penknives and gadgets. More than 10,000 shoppers are expected to attend the warehouse sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Swim.

The sale hours are:

Nov. 5th, Friday: 3 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Nov. 6th, Saturday – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Nov. 7th, Sunday – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Trumbull High School is located at 72 Strobel Road. Off the Merritt Parkway take Exit 49 and head north; or take Route 25 to Exit 9. Continue about 1 mile, past Hillcrest Middle School, then turn right onto Strobel Road. The high school is on the right.

Celebrate the Holiday Season With a Swim Ornament
Get into the holiday spirit by purchasing the third Swim Collectible Holiday ornament. The high-quality gold metallic ornament depicts interlocking Breast Cancer Ribbons on a brushed gold facing that remind us of the Swim’s commitment to help and support breast cancer patients and their families. The cost is $15, which benefits the Swim breast cancer programs.

Artist Andrea Lynn McKeen, formerly of Stratford, designed the ornament. Christine Dzujna, a cancer survivor, chairs the Holiday Ornament Committee and is responsible for distributing and selling the ornaments. If you know of a store that would be interested in selling the ornaments, contact Dzujna through St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, 203-576-5451.

Add a festive flair to your holidays with this beautiful ornament and help breast cancer patients. A limited quantity of the second ornament is available, while the first one is sold out.

The Swim Cancer Survivor Breakfast Honors Cancer Survivors
The annual Swim Cancer Survivor’s Breakfast will celebrate all cancer survivor heroes Nov. 10th at the Holiday Inn in Bridgeport. The event kicks off at 7:30 a.m.

The annual breakfast, sponsored by Swiss Army Brands, recognizes area residents living with cancer. Each registered survivor will receive a watch courtesy of Swiss Army Brands that is a symbol of how precious time is for everyone. Because seating is limited to 500, cancer survivors must call the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation to make a reservation at 203-576-5451. All cancer survivors, who have not previously attended the breakfast, are eligible.

Swiss Army CEO Sue Rechner reaffirmed how committed Swiss Army is to the Swim’s cancer prevention efforts. She said that Swiss Army Brands is proud to recognize cancer survivors for their courage.

“People with cancer can never look at life the same way,” said Rechner. “We think it’s important to recognize people who have persevered and survived cancer.”

Fitness Edge Gets Pumped for the Swim
More than 30 spin cyclists hopped on bikes at the Fairfield Fitness Edge, 665 Commerce Drive in Fairfield, to work up a sweat and raise more than $1,100 for the Swim on October 2nd.

Rainy weather forced the third annual spin indoors, which was originally planned to be outside under the stars. Several Fitness Edge spin instructors donated their time to lead the room full of spinners. Orsi Rosenfeld, Fitness Edge instructor, coordinated the event.

Spinning is done on a specially equipped stationary bike that simulates outdoor touring. Music plays in the background to help set the pace for the spinners, who worked out for a couple of hours lead by instructors.

Christian Carbonaro, Marketing Director for Fitness Edge, said the Spin Under the Stars is a fun event that raises funds for a great cause. Fitness Edge, one of the premier health facilities in the state, has six locations – Westport, Fairfield, Stratford, Milford and Norwalk (2).

“At Fitness Edge, we’re very committed to the Swim,” Carbonaro said. “Our members embrace the Swim and support it through many events year round, such as the Spin Under the Stars. It was a great night; it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t get outdoors.”

Plasko’s Farms Creates Gift Baskets to Benefit the Swim
Plasko’s Farms, 670 Daniels Farm Rd, Trumbull, features beautiful and tasty gift baskets for special occasions and holidays and a portion of every one sold will benefit Swim Across the Sound.

Build your own baskets with cookies, jams, jellies and preserves, breads and pancake mixes, fruit and candy for that special someone. Baskets range between $25-$50 with a portion benefiting cancer patients and their families through the Swim.

Baskets are custom made with the appropriate colors of the season or occasion and wrapped in colorful bows. Visit Plasko’s between 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Sunday or call 268-2716.

John Plasko, owner of Plasko’s Farm, has committed his support to the Swim because it meets so many needs in the community. “We think the Swim is a great cause,” Plasko said. “I’ve seen the good work it does, helping members of the community. I’m proud to be associated with it.”

Don’t forget to wind your way through the corn maze at Plasko’s, which is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. October 30th will be flashlight night from 6-10 p.m. Bring your own flashlight and wander through the maze on Halloween eve. A portion of the admission charge for the maze also benefits the Swim.

The Icing on the Cake
The smell of fresh cookies, pies and cakes filled the autumn air as hundreds of people filed into the parking lot behind the Black Rock Arts Center for the first Star Café Bake Off Oct. 2 to benefit the Swim.

The Star Café, 2816 Fairfield Ave. in Black Rock, hosted the bake off that raised $1,500 for the Swim and drew contestants in nine categories, including cookies, muffins, pies and cakes. Two bands provided the entertainment and volunteers cooked hamburgers and hot dogs.

The highlight of the bake off was the pie-eating contest as participants plunged their faces into blueberry pies topped with whipped cream. Children enjoyed hayrides and pony rides while a magician entertained the crowd and created balloon sculptures.

Admission was free while volunteers sold donated baked goods and hamburgers and hot dogs to raise money for the Swim. William Frankel and his wife, Star, owners of Star Café, and Jerry Reynolds chaired the event. William is already planning to make next year’s bake off bigger and better.

“This was our first attempt and it went well,” Frankel said. “We think this event has a lot of potential and can raise a lot of money for such a great cause.”

Inspirational Writing
The Swim newsletter has a new feature of an inspirational writing that touches on the mission of the Swim. Your writing will also appear on the Swim's website!

We welcome all cancer survivors or supporters of the Swim to submit a poem, essay or reflective piece for consideration for publication. Send all writings to sziborg@aol.com. SUBMIT YOUR WRITING TODAY!

Remember the Swim
Of all the worthwhile causes, few meet the work the Swim does in helping others. There are many ways to help the Swim:

• Donate to Swim events;
• Participate in Swim events;
• Name the Swim in your will;
• Donate a planned income gift;
• Volunteer;
• Run your own Swim fundraiser.

For more information, call the Swim Foundation at 203-576-5451.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October - November
Annual Corn Maize
Plasko’s Farm, Trumbull

November 5, 6 & 7, 2004
Swiss Army Brands Sale
Trumbull High School, Trumbull, CT

November 10, 2004
Swiss Army Brands Survivor Breakfast
Holiday Inn, Bridgeport

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.