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Valentine’s Dance Touches the Heart
The Pia Lauren Spa di Bellezia Valentine’s Dance raised the beat February 10th to benefit St. Vincent's Swim Across the Sound. The dance took place at Roberto’s Restaurant in Monroe and raised more than $13,000 to benefit the Swim breast cancer programs.

Pia Lauren, owner of the Pia Lauren Spa di Bellezia in Fairfield and Nick Frattaroli hosted the first annual Valentine’s Dance. More than 200 people enjoyed a night of dancing, beautiful music and a fabulous cuisine. The dance featured the music of Francesco Castiglione, accompanied by tenor Aaron Caruso, who is in rehearsal in New York for the upcoming Broadway production of the Mario Lanza Story. I Liguri also entertained the crowd with popular hits and Italian favorites.

Guests of the evening included entrepreneur, cancer survivor and motivational speaker, M. Walter Levine of Southport. Levine was the keynote speaker at the Swim’s Celebrity Breakfast that took place February 8th at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn.

Mike Bisciglia, Vice President of St. Vincent's Foundation, applauded Lauren and Frattaroli for their support of the Swim. “The Swim is truly grateful to both Pia and Nick for hosting such a lovely and successful event,” said Bisciglia,. “Swim Across the Sound would not be a success without people like them. Within the last week, the Swim has had two amazing events with terrific turnouts and overwhelming generosity.”

Bisciglia also applauded Levine for his inspirational as the featured speaker of the breakfast. “Walter is a wonderful addition to the Swim. He’s a cancer survivor and brings an inspirational message to other survivors. He helped make the breakfast an overwhelming success.”

Lauren, a cancer survivor, thanked the crowd for their support and reminded them that while they were enjoying a wonderful evening, they were also helping cancer patients through the Swim. She distributed a scroll describing her motivation for hosting the dance. In part, it read: ‘I ask you, my friends, to please remember what this evening is really about. It’s not about whether or not the food is good, or if the music is too loud, or if you are wearing the right outfit. It’s about being grateful for the gift of another day. In the words of my good friend, M. Walter Levine, I choose to use this day to ask, ‘What can I do to help?’ I am so grateful to all my friends here tonight, because all of you are making a difference.”

Celebrity Breakfast Kicks Off 2006 Swim Campaign
M. Walter Levine of Southport, keynote speaker at St. Vincent's Swim Across the Sound 10th annual Celebrity Breakfast, stirred an audience of more than 500 with his moving story of how he survived cancer after a terminal prognosis.

Levine, an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, talked about how he was given three days to live and today is living a full life. He credited the support of his family, friends, and fellow patients for helping him to beat cancer.

“My family and friends helped me immensely,” Levine said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have made it. You have to maintain hope and seek out every possible avenue when you have cancer. You have to be your own advocate.”

Levine said he met Mother Theresa, who told him the five most important words in life, “How Can I Help You?” He said people who give gain more benefit than those that receive.
The event, staged at the Holiday Inn and sponsored by People’s Bank, raised more than $70,000 to benefit the Swim’s 34 cancer education, screening, prevention and support programs, kicking off the 2006 Swim campaign.

Celebrity waiters, who sponsored tables and invited friends, delivered the hearty breakfast. In turn, their guests tipped the waiters, which was donated to the Swim. Miss USA Chelsea Cooley served as a waitress along with Brian Smith, host of WICC Brian Smith News and Variety Show.

A college student in New York, Chelsea applauded the Swim for its work with cancer patients and their families. The Miss USA pageant supports cancer charities, in particular those dealing with ovarian and breast cancer.

Miss USA also pulled the winning ticket for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice sports car, which was won by Carolyn Scifo of Trumbull. The William B. Meyer Co. and D’Addario Buick, Pontiac, Nissan, Cadillac co-donated the car to benefit the Swim and the D’Addario Hypertension Fund at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Chairs of the event included John DiMarco of Luigi’s of Bridgeport , John Matthews and Mark Fries of Beardsley, Brown and Bassett.

Additional breakfast sponsors were Madison Jewelers of Fairfield, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Fairfield County Radiology.

Bridal Show Benefits Swim
At the 1st Annual Queen Victoria’s Bridal Show Feb. 28th, future brides, their friends and loved ones planned their weddings and benefited the Swim all at the same time.

The bridal show took place at the new Testo’s Restaurante & Banquets, 1775 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport. Admission was a $5 donation to the Swim. Brides and their family and friends enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a pasta station, and a cash bar. They also registered for a honeymoon giveaway and other great prizes.

Vendors were available to answer questions on the spot. The vendors that took part were:

• Andy’s Photo,
• Camillo’s Tuxedos,
• County Insurance Agency,
• Dance To the Music Entertainment,
• Eight to the Bar,
• Executive Office Services,
• Latella & Sons Livery Services,
• Luigi’s Italian Pastries of Bridgeport,
• Marie’s Bridal Shoppe,
• Mitch Co Rental,
• Moda Capelli,
• Morano’s Limousine Service,
• Phyl’s Flowers,
• Testo’s Restaurante & Banquet,
• Traveland

After the bridal show, everyone enjoyed delectable Italian treats from a Venetian table provided by Luigi’s Italian Pastries of Bridgeport, rated the Best Cannoli baker in the state by Connecticut Magazine.

Peak Fitness Stays In Shape To Fight Breast Cancer
Peak Fitness of Seymour recently teamed with Duchess Restaurants, WICC and Seymour High School students to raise awareness and money to support the fight against breast cancer.

During the month of October 2005, Seymour High School students raised over $3,000 riding exercise bikes at Peak Fitness. Members and friends of Peak Fitness who support Swim Across the Sound raised the remaining $7,000. In addition, Duchess Restaurants raised more than $10,000 to support the Swim breast cancer programs.

Gus Klarides, owner of Peak Fitness in Seymour, was delighted with the participation and efforts of both his club members and local high school students. “We support the Swim and it’s mission to help cancer patients and their families,” Klarides said. “The Swim is phenomenal. Peak Fitness received an overwhelming response from its members and we hope to do this fundraiser again next year.”

The $10,000 raised by Peak Fitness and Seymour High students will benefit the Swim’s Breast Cancer screening, prevention, education and support programs. The money will also support the St. Vincent’s Medical Center’s Woman’s Imaging Center that offers mammograms, ultrasounds, and bone density scans.

Through the Woman’s Imaging Center, The Swim underwrites the Mobile Mammography Van, which travels throughout Fairfield County performing mammograms on women.

Courageous Third Grader Loses Battle With Cancer
Cameron Brooks, the third grader at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford, who was diagnosed with Diffuse Pontine Giloma (an inoperable brain stem tumor), died recently after a courageous struggle with cancer.

On November 13th, Swim Across the Sound’s Hartford Chapter hosted the Smile a Mile for Cameron Walk at St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford. Over 300 walkers of all ages came out to support Cameron Brooks.

Kelli Cilbrith, co-chair of The Swim Hartford Chapter, said the Swim intends to have an annual walk to raise funds to help children with cancer from the Greater Hartford area. “We intend to continue to sponsor a walk to help children with cancer every year,” Cilbrith said. “We want to keep Cameron’s memory alive. It is surprising how many people supported the Swim and Cameron’s fight against cancer. The Swim Hartford Chapter is so thankful for the overwhelming support in Hartford County. This was an emotional event and we had a great turnout. The money we collected will help other children in Cameron’s situation.”

The Swim Hartford Chapter and Charles and Carla Brooks, Cameron’s parents, created the Smile A Mile for Cameron Walk in honor of Cameron’s strength in the battle against cancer. The Brooks family plans to plant a tree in Cameron’s honor at Aiken Elementary School in the spring of 2006.

Smile a Mile for Cameron raised funds to help children battling cancer in the Greater Hartford area. The New Britain Rock Cats mascot, Rocky, joined the walk to add some entertainment and to complete the first lap with Cameron. Commemorative T-shirts were given to all participants who gave a minimum donation of $50 to the Smile A Mile walk.

Buy Pink & Help Cancer Patients in the Hartford Area
The Rock Cats, the Minnesota Twins minor league baseball team in New Britain, will donate 20% of all pink merchandise sold in the stadium during the season to Swim Across the Sound Hartford Chapter.

The Rock Cats will sponsor a Swim night on June 28th and July 24th.

Cancer Boutique Promotes Wellness
St. Vincent’s Care Services and Saxon-Kent Lingere have partnered together in association with Swim Across the Sound to sponsor a Cancer Boutique.

The mission of the boutique is to bring comprehensive cancer special needs closer to home to the women of Connecticut. The boutique will feature treatments that are provided to women who have cancer.

The Cancer Boutique will offer products for hair loss, such as wigs, hairpieces, bangs, turbins, hats and sleep caps and scalp and wig care products. Breast Surgery products at the boutique include breast prostheses, mastectomy bras, specialty apparel and swimwear. Compression garments for Lymphedema will also be shown.

Sensitive and professional fitters will provide individualized attention in a private setting. Women attending are asked to bring their Medicare and Insurance Cards. All paperwork will be done and completed at the boutique. Swim Across the Sound assistance is available for those who qualify.

No appointments are necessary. Please contact Teresa Money McLaughlin, RN, MSN, AOCN the Community Oncology Nurse Case Manager with any questions, 576-6158 or tmclaugh@stvincents.org.

LOOKING AHEAD...:

Youth Basketball Classic Scores for the Swim
The Fairfield County Board of Approved Basketball Officials will host the 5th Annual Basketball Classic at Bunnell High School April 22-23, 2006.

The tournament features four teams in the boys and four teams in the girls divisions for kids 15 and under. Each team must pay a $175 entry fee with the proceeds benefiting the Swim. For more information, contact Glen Colello, 203-452-9641.

Mark Fries – Marathon Man
Mark Fries of Beardsley, Brown and Bassett will run the Big Sur International Marathon April 30th to benefit the Swim. He plans to seek individual and corporate sponsors for his run.

Fries, a Newtown resident, ran the New York Marathon in 2002 with his daughter Emily to raise funds for the Swim. The father-daughter duo raised $32,000 in their joint run. They earmarked the funs for the Swim Teen Smoke Stoppers Program. This year, Fries plans to earmark the donations for the same Swim program.

A senior vice president, Fries is a member of the Swim Golf Committee and St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation board member.

Swim's Hartford Chapter to Host Wine Tasting/Silent Auction
Swim Across the Sound Hartford Chapter will host a Wine Tasting/Silent Auction May 3rd to benefit the Swim’s 34 cancer education, prevention, support, and screening programs.

The Wine Tasting/Auction will take place at the Country Club of Farmington, and feature dozens of fine wines from around the world as well as unique and high-quality silent auction items, ranging from sports memorabilia to Broadway tickets. All the proceeds will benefit the Swim. Last year, the Swim Hartford Chapter raised a total of more than $10,400. Supporters will also enjoy delectable hors d’ oeuvres donated by Ruth Chris Steak House while bidding on silent auction items.

The Swim launched a Hartford Chapter in 2005 and is dedicated to raising funds for cancer patients and their families in the Hartford area. In its first year, the Swim Hartford Chapter was extremely pro-active, hosting a Miniature Golf Tournament and a “Smile a Mile for Cameron Walk” to benefit a child from the Hartford area with a rare form of cancer.

Kelli Cilbrith and Mitch McGrath are the co-chairs of the Swim Hartford Chapter and will also host two benefit nights at the New Britain Rock Cats games during the 2006 season.

For more information about the Swim Hartford Chapter, call Kelli Cilbrith or Mitch McGrath at 203-526-3935 or 860-874-8998.

Swim's Hartford Chapter Presents a Scrapbooking & Stamping Forum
Bring your own supplies and beverages. A light lunch & pasta dinner will be served.

$35.00 per person
100% of proceeds will be donated to assist patients and their families
in the Hartford Area battling with Cancer.

Saturday May 20, 2006
10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Farmington Lions Club/Camp Happy Hill, West Avon Road

For more information & to register, please email: swimhartford04@sbcglobal.net
or phone: Mitch McGrath @ 860-874-8998 or Kelli Cilbrith @ 203-526-3935

The DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation 1st Annual Golf Tournament Tees Off
The DiMatteo Family Charitable Foundation will host its first annual golf tournament to benefit St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound on May 22nd, 2006.

The tournament will take place at Woodbridge Country Club, 80 Woodfield Road in Woodbridge. The cost is $200 per golfer and $800 per foursome.

Registration and buffet lunch run from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Golfers will tee off at noon in a shotgun start and play a best ball format.

Cocktails will follow at 6 p.m. with a dinner and silent auction to follow. Sponsorship packages are available. For more information or to register, contact 203-924-4811, ext. 18 or resposito@dimatteoinsurance.com.

Metro-Parrot Head Club Flying High
Swim Across the Sound invites you to be part of the Metro-Parrot Head Club concert will be flying high with the Jim Morris Band June 10th at Captain’s Cove from 12-6 p.m.

The third annual concert is a fun event that features the Jim Morris Band the Jimmy Buffett’s backup band from Florida. The concert will draw people from around the country. The Metro-Parrot Head Club will donate a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and silent auction to the Swim.

Swim Across the Sound Sailing Regatta To Set Sail July 15th
The Swim Sailing Regatta Cocktail Party and Silent Auction will take place May 19th at Black Rock Yacht Club 7-10 p.m.

The cocktail party will feature hors d’ouevres, cocktails and dozens of silent auction items. The 7th annual Sailing Regatta will set sail July 15th, hosted by Fayerweather Yacht Club in Bridgeport.

The regatta is sponsored by WindCheck Magazine and presented by Fayerweather YC and Black Rock YC in Bridgeport, Housatonic Boat Club in Stratford and Cedar Point YC in Westport.

Swimmers Set to Turn the Tide Against Cancer
More than 150 swimmers are scheduled to plunge into Long Island Sound August 5th for the 19th annual Swim marathon.

The swim will begin at Port Jefferson, Long Island and finish at Captain’s Cove Seaport in Bridgeport. Last year, swimmers raised more than $280,000 to benefit Swim Across the Sound.

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, call St. Vincent’s Foundation – 576-5451 or visit the Swim website, www.swimacrossthesound.org.

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.

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.