Proceeds will be donated to the "Miracle Building" at Rockville Centre's Mercy Medical Center to house the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Nassau County, and cancer research at the Swim Across America Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.
Among the early morning swimmers and kayakers who covered miles together were some 15 members of "Team Rob," formed in honor of the late Rob Manzoni. Manzoni, known lovingly as "Smooch" by friends and family, died last December after a long, brave battle with cancer. He was 27.
Approximately $9,000 was raised in Manzoni's memory by Team Rob members, which included swimmers Mike Ford, Marty Bergin, Jack Murphy, Justin Cisario, Christine Costello, Mary Costello, and kayakers Bob Astarita, Dickey Chimenti, Ed and Keith Grant, Peter Jackson, Kevin Lyons, Marty McHale, Liam and Gavin Murphy, and Gus Nuzzolese.
