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Two Rockville Centre residents will join a dozen other swimmers as they embark on a boat to leave the shores of Morgan Park in Glen Cove for the Larchmont Shore Club in Westchester County on Aug. 16. But that is only the first and easiest half of the round trip adventure for Alexis and Daphne Skelos of Rockville Centre. From the beach of the Larchmont Shore Club, Alexis,18, and Daphne, 15, and many of their teammates from the Long Island Aquatic Club will join several other swimmers as they jump into the cool waters of the Long Island Sound for their 10k swim to fight cancer sponsored by Swim Across America's (SAA) Nassau-Suffolk Committee.
The beneficiaries of this year's event will be the Memorial Sloan-Ketterings's Miracle Foundation Building to be constructed at the Mercy Medical Center campus in Rockville Centre and the Swim Across America Laboratory at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
The Nassau-Suffolk Committee of SAA was founded by Gerry Oakes of Garden City approximately two years ago. This is the third swim for cancer for the Skelos girls, who have been charter members of the Nassau-Suffolk Committee.
Oakes expects "to build on the momentum of last year's event." In
addition to the dozen or so athletes swimming across Long Island Sound, it
is anticipated that between 80-100 swimmers will participate in the 5k and 1
mile swims being conducted simultaneously with the 10k swim. The swimmers doing the 10k swim have committed to raising $5,000 each and the 5k and 1 mile swimmers are committed to raising $500 each.
Thanks to many corporate sponsors, including the Rallye Group, Verizon, Siwel Consulting, Lane Office Furniture, Chapdelaine & Co., National Land Tenure and Speedo Swimwear, all administrative costs and expenses have been covered. Rockville Centre resident Don Regan, who is chair of the corporate sponsorship committee, said, "corporate sponsorship assures that 100 percent of every dollar raised by the swimmers will go directly to our beneficiaries."
He continued, "Alexis and Daphne have set lofty goals for themselves and can use the help of their friends and neighbors in Rockville Centre." Donations can be sent by mail to Swim Across America-N/S, Attention Alexis and Daphne Skelos @ P.O. Box 7878 Garden City, New York 11530 or online at www.supportalexisdaphne.chariteam.com.
The Miracle Building at the Mercy Medical Campus is being funded in part by the The Miracle Foundation founded in 1999 by Michael and Patti Tenaglia of Garden City. After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1998, Tenaglia came to realize that there was a lack of access to quality cancer care on Long Island. Despite the high cancer rates on Long Island, its residents frequently have to travel to New York Cityâs cancer centers for treatment that may take months and years. To the many patients who required daily or weekly treatment, the added burden of travel seemed unnecessary to Tenaglia. The Miracle Foundation encouraged the Mercy Medical Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer to expand on their existing relationship. An agreement was reached for The Miracle Foundation to provide funding to build such a facility on the Mercy Campus, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering has agreed to lease back the facility and staff as needed.
Construction is underway and is expected to be completed by late 2004. Unfortunately, Tenaglia succumbed to the scourge of cancer in September 2002. Vincent DiRubbio, Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Medical Center, said, "The entire Mercy community is appreciative of Mr. Oakesâ and Swim Across Americaâs commitment to The Miracle Building. I am particularly gratified to know that Alexis and Daphne together with so many other young adults have dedicated themselves to assuring that Mr. Tenaglia's vision will be realized."
Alexis and Daphne are members of the Long Island Aquatic Club, which trains at the Nassau Aquatic Center. Alexis was one of the founding members of South Side High School's girls varsity swim team and is now swimming at The College of William and Mary. Daphne is South Side's reigning county champion in the 200 individual medley. The girls recognize that swimming has provided them with many wonderful opportunities and lasting friendships and are happy to use the talents in the fight against cancer.
"We all know many people who have been affected by cancer," Alexis said. "Some of them are our friends, neighbors or family members. We are grateful for the opportunity to help in some small way to fight the disease."
Daphne continued, "Our parents and our coaches at LIAC and at South Side encourage us to get involved in community service and to use our swimming skills to help others, and I am looking forward to the challenge." The girls agreed, "it will be tough, but we know it will be worth the effort."
Alexis and Daphne would like to thank their two principle sponsors thus far, the Pantry Diner and Mr. and Mrs. Steven DiMare of Unified Window Systems, and encourage other local businesses and residents to join them in their fight against cancer as they swim across Long Island Sound.
