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Saxon Woods In Swim Across America Fundraiser

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Swimmers as young as 4 years old will fill the Saxon Woods Pool Saturday in the facility's annual swim marathon fundraiser to benefit Swim Across America’s fight against cancer.

“We are planning to meet at 7:30 a.m. and will jump in together and make our big splash to fight cancer,” event organizer Karen Rivituso said. “Our youngest swimmer this year is Oliver Ponce, who just turned 4 this past May. His sister Camila, who is 2, will be cheering him on.”

That youthful enthusiasm has been generated by two decades of local involvement in Swim Across America’s local Swim Across America-Long Island Sound and local pool and swim club events celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary this summer. The main event is the Long Island Sound Swim set for July 28 off the shores off the Larchmont Yacht Club.

“Team BoyScouts is a team dedicated to teaching boys and girls wholesome values like teamwork, friendship, responsibility and to help those less fortunate than yourself,” Rivituso said. “These children raise money to fight against cancer. They swim in memory of friends and family who were taken from us prematurely by cancer and in honor of all those who are fighting this awful disease.”

Team BoyScout’s member and Eagle Scout James Fleming, a 29-year-old who will swim the 1-mile length at the Swim Across Long Island Sound event. The Scouts invite all swimmers to join the team in the pool.

“This will be Jim's second year swimming,” Rivituso said. “Last year he swam in his Boy Scout shirt.  We welcome and challenge the Eagles Scouts to join our team and continue to make a difference.”

Team BoyScouts captain Michael P. Rivituso will be leading the Saturday pool swim. His sons Michael and Raymond Rivituso and Hailey Helmer (and the Rivituso family) swim this year in memory of their Grandma Helen and Cousin Jim who lost their battles to cancer this past May.

“We will miss Grandma Helen and Jim so very, very much – words cannot express our sadness,” Michael and Raymond Rivituso said. “We know we cannot bring them back, but it is our hope that one day no one will lose their grandma, cousin or loved one to cancer as we have this year. Please help us to raise money to find a cure. Any amount is a step closer to our goal.”

Swim Across America has raised more than $12 million over 20 years; $1.2 million last year at Long Island Sound and pool swims.

Proceeds from local swim events go to several organizations including, Cancer Support Team of Westchester County, Tommy Palazzo Fellowship at Columbia University, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian Medical Center, DeMatteo Research and SAA’s laboratories at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

To join the Team Boy Scout team and Saxon Woods Swim or the Long Island Sound Swim, visit their page online

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