Don Fowley, an 82-year-old resident at The Osborn’s Sterling Park independent living community in Rye, NY, was the oldest participant in the Swim Across America event at the Orienta Beach Club.
Not only was he the oldest participant, he swam 66 laps – one mile – and helped his team raise more than $43,000 for cancer research.
“I got to swim in front of my family, including three children and one granddaughter,” said Fowley, who lost his first wife, Kathleen, to cancer more than 20 years ago. “That’s why I swim.”
He has participated in Swim Across America events for the past 27 years and has been part of helping the organization raise more than $80 million for cancer research and clinical trials.
“Mr. Fowley’s athletic performance is a true inspiration to seniors everywhere,” said Matthew G. Anderson, The Osborn’s president and CEO. “He represents the spirit of The Osborn community – vibrant people living an upbeat, engaged lifestyle.”
The money from Fowley’s most recent swim will support immunotherapy research at the Swim Across America Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, pediatric oncology research at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and patient services with the cancer support team.
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