Mike Abatemarco and Connor Brown accept a plaque from the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of Swim Across America on behalf of the GC Boy Scouts swim team for their charitable work and fundraising. On a beautiful sunlit day on Saturday August 15, 2009, The GC Boy Scouts swim team was joined by fellow teens Frank Caponegro and Jacqueline Vani for the One Mile swim at Morgan Beach in Glen Cove, at the annual Nassau/Suffolk chapter’s Swim Across America event. The Swim Across America non-profit organization was founded in 1987 for the purposes of raising funds and elevated awareness for cancer prevention, research and treatment. Our local teens raised more than $9,000 in donations from friends, family and neighbors to help this worthy cause. The proceeds from the event will support the fight against cancer at noteworthy local treatment centers such as the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center, the Children’s Center at Montefiore Hospital, and the Miracle Pavilion at Mercy Medical Center.

From left to right: Connor Brown, Matt Pena, Rob Pena, Jimmy Searson, Frank Caponegro, Ryan Brown, Mike Abatemarco, and the young lady Jacqueline Vani. More than 150 adult and teen swimmers participated in this annual fund raising event, with some of our team members among the first to finish in their age bracket. In the spirit of the Theodore Roosevelt Council motto for the Nassau County Boy Scouts of America, a big “Bully” (one of our 26th President’s favorite sayings) goes out to the great group of teen swimmers representing our community at this terrific charity event. And many thanks to all of our good friends, family and neighbors who contributed their money and time to make this event successful. If you would like more information about the Swim Across America organization you can visit their website at www.swimacrossamerica.org, Nassau/Suffolk chapter.

The team poses before their one mile swim along with future team member Kieran Brown.
More than 150 swimmers get ready to participate in the one mile swim for cancer research.
GC Boy Scouts team member Connor Brown enjoys a refreshment after being one of the first teens to complete the one mile swim.
Jimmy Searson finishes fifth among the under 14 group in the swim for charity.
Matt Pena checks in after his successful swim.
Mike Abatemarco smiles having completed his swim for a worthy cause.
Frank Caponegro finishes his mile with flying colors.