Large Local Family Swims for the Cure

by Cara Zebrowski

(July 3, 2008) Swim Across America’s Long Island Sound Chapter, based in Westchester, enters its 16th season of swim events to raise money to combat cancer. The largest swim takes place in Long Island Sound from Larchmont on July 26th.

And one of the largest swim teams will include members and friends of the extended Mitchell/McCarthy family.

Nancy McCreery (center) with her brother Sean (right) and family friend Phil Gormley (left) finished last year's swim as members of Team Bob.

For Larchmonter Nancy McCreery, 38, this swim means fighting the disease that is all too familiar to her family. “I got started with the swim because of Kathy Webers,” she said. “She was a very close family friend. I do it because of how much we loved Kathy and because of the many others fighting cancer.” The local Swim Across America effort was founded in memory of Kathy Webers.

Ms. McCreery, one of 11 children, had a brother who died of childhood leukemia. Her stepfather Bob Mitchell also died of cancer. Her sister Muffin was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in January of this year and is finishing radiation treatments right before the swim. The family is swimming in honor of Muffin. “This is the least we could do to honor her,” Nancy McCreery said.

Mary Jo Mitchell (first row center in tan) posed with her 11 children and their families in 2007. Team Bob is in honor of her second husband, Bob Mitchell, who died ten years ago from cancer.

More than 10 family members are swimming or volunteering this year, including Muffin, who usually swims. “It’s a family effort to say the least,” said Nancy McCreery. They make up “Team Bob,” named in honor of Nancy’s stepfather. Family members who can’t volunteer or swim make donations, but they all participate in their own way.

Some of the members of Team Bob 2007 prepare to swim; most will be back again for 2008.

Nancy McCreery remembers the first time she participated in the swim, back in 1995. She swam with her sister, Beth McErlean. Before that, she was a volunteer for three years. In 1995, there were 30 or 40 swimmers participating in the event. Now there are about 500. She said sponsors like Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are helping to spread awareness and support for Swim Across America. “It says so much about Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage that they’re able to support us and help us,” she said. “They can donate to any other organization but the fact that they’re doing this is really great. On behalf of my family, we thank them.”

The day of the swim is exciting, said Ms. McCreery. It is a day for her to think about Bob, Muffin, Kathy Webers and her friends and family who have been affected by cancer. She’s racing against cancer, she said. Every year she raises her fundraising goals and tries to bring more money to the cause. Every year she is amazed by how much she and her family have raised. It’s the least she can do, she said. That and swim as hard as she can.

“There’s a big adrenaline rush the minute you get out there. Team Bob is in one boat and you go out there and put your worries aside for one day and swim. Everybody’s there for that one common goal and we reach it. It’s amazing.”

“It’s a significant milestone just standing on the beach after you get out of the water and seeing the hundreds of people coming in. It is just amazing,” she said.

To get involved in this year’s Larchmont Swim Across America event, visit www.SwimAcrossAmerica.org/Long_Island.

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