Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lynbrook Municipal Pool was the site of the village’s sixth annual Swim Across America event on Aug 9, in which swimmers raised money for cancer research.
The event raised an estimated $10,000, and organizer Julie Bergin said she was pleased with the turnout. “It was good,” she said. “Even though some people are away this time of year, it always goes smoothly.”
In six years, this fundraiser has brought in close to $100,000.
The participants included a number of special guests, including State Assemblyman Brian Curran, who swam for the sixth consecutive year, and the Glor na nGael pipe and drum band, which provided the music.
“It was an incredible job by all the swimmers who participated to raise money and awareness for cancer,” said Curran. “I’m always honored to participate, and thank the cofounders of this tremendous event, Julie Sheehan Bergin and Kelly Stapleton, for organizing this important day every year.”
Swim Across America, which began in 1987, is a national series of swims in pools across the country whose goal is to “make waves to fight cancer,” according to its website, through fundraising and awareness campaigns. Bergin and Stapleton started the Lynbrook event after Stapleton’s father, Jim Keating, was diagnosed with cancer. He died in July 2011.
“It was another successful year,” Stapleton said of last weekend’s event. “We are so happy with the community spirit, and the village is go gracious for allowing us to have it at the Lynbrook pool every year.”
Each swimmer is asked to raise at least $100 in pledges, and swims a half-mile or mile. Swimmers of all levels of skill took part, from paddlers to pool-walkers to competitors.
Stapleton’s younger sister, Meghan Kovacs, was one of them. “I attended this event before, but this was my first time swimming,” said Kovacs, who lives in Maryland. “I did a half-mile. It was more difficult than I thought it would be.” Her 5-year-old son, Logan, swam with her. “[Sunday] would have been our dad’s 70th birthday,” she said, “and this was such a positive way to celebrate that … and a great way to pay it forward.” Kovacs added that she has been to a Swim Across America event in Baltimore, but it didn’t have a “community” feel like this one.
