The Catalina Island Swim Club is gearing up for its 10th annual Pancreatic Cancer fundraising swim from Casino Point to Frog Rock and back, 2.2 miles round trip on Saturday, Sept. 19. Following the swim, there will be a potluck breakfast.
If anyone is not up for the full 2.2-mile swim, feel free to jump in, get wet, and participate in this fun and festive event while supporting a great cause at any swim distance.
The PanCAN fundraiser began in 2017, when club members decided to turn their daily swim into a fundraiser in honor of former Avalon Hospital nurse Richard Kleinman, who was fighting Pancreatic cancer. That year, the swim became a fundraiser for PanCAN, an organization that is dedicated to the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer. The first year the club had about 20 swimmers, who had gathered pledges for their swim. They raised about $2,000 for PanCAN and the event has continued since. The event was always triumphantly led by Charlie Canby, Catalina Island Swim Club’s founder. And although, Coach Charlie passed away last year, the event continues on with the club’s members’ continued support.
The recommended donation per swimmer is $30. Swimmers are encouraged to gather friends to sponsor their swim. The club encourages everyone to solicit donations for PanCAN, a non-profit that supports all sorts of cancer patients. Donations can be via cash, checks written to PanCAN, through the club’s Instagram fundraiser link, or online directly at PanCAN.org. To help us keep track of our online donations to PanCAN make the donation “In honor of Catalina Swim.
Arrive at Casino Point by 6:30 a.m. for registration and preparation. There will be a group photo promptly at 6:55 a.m. and the swim will start right at 7 a.m., early, before the wind comes up and while the water is still calm.