Tarry Crest Swim Team Is Making A Splash!
Thursday, July 30, 2009 @ 8:30 a.m

Super Swim-A-Thon to honor Tarrytown resident, Katie Smercak

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, the Tarry Crest Swimming and Tennis Club Swim Team will participate in a swim-a-thon sponsored by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ("LLS), an organization dedicated to helping those with leukemia and other blood cancers.  This year, the Tarry Crest Swim Team joins other Westchester swim teams, such as Rocky Ledge, Larchmont Shore Club, Larchmont Yacht Club, Apawamis, Orienta and Wykagyl, to swim in honor of Tarrytown resident, Katie Smercak.

About Katie Smercak
The 2009 Super Swim Classic Honored Patient
Katie Smercak, of Tarrytown, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) shortly after her 5th birthday. She bravely endured over two years of chemotherapy. During this time, she attended school, continued playing soccer, and attended ballet and art classes, even while feeling the side effects of chemotherapy. Four years after her treatment, Katie's health is excellent. At 11 years old, she is a vibrant, happy kid! She is an excellent student, and when she is not studying, she plays the piano and the trumpet. She recently started playing Lacrosse. Katie also enjoys drama and performed in her school play this spring. She has not only been an inspiration to her family and friends, but also to her classmates, teachers and community.

Some Facts:

• Every ten minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
• Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20.
• The relative five-year survival rate for patients with leukemia increased from 14 percent in 1960 to 51 percent in 2004.
• In 2006, the Swim-a-thon program had only 8 teams and raised $27,152.32. In 2008, there were 18 teams who participated in the program and together they raised $80,273.00!
• In 2008, over 85,000 laps were swam, which is also 2,630 miles or the distance from D.C. to Venezuela!!

About the Swim-a-thon
Funds raised by the Tarry Crest Swim Team members will go towards funding LLS's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease, and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

How does it work?
Swimmers collect pledges from friends and relatives.  For example, a swimmer may receive a $0.50 pledge for each lap. Imagine if each swimmer collects .50 pledges from 5-10 friends or family and then swims 20 laps! That would equal a $100 donation! Donors can also make a flat donation. Spread the word! Every donation helps!

How to make a donation?
Simply complete the pledge form and let the swimmers to the work!  After the swim-a-thon, swimmers will contact their donors to let them know how far they swam and to collect the donation.  Please see the attached registration form for more information.

Just how far will your donation go?
$25 Covers the cost of one prescription co-payment.
$35 Provides transportation expenses for a patient living in the DC metropolitan area to a comprehensive cancer center for treatment.
$40 Covers the cost of sending a comprehensive support and informational packet to the family of a child with cancer.
$50 Covers the cost of one CT scan.
$75 Covers the cost of one tissue typing test that is used to become a bone marrow donor.
$100 Helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures
$100 Provides 3 patients access to an informational teleconference.