Hi Families,

At our very own ‘North Forest Aquatic Center’ on Monday, June 18^th we will be hosting Somerset Sharks in our final home meet of the season! It will be a fun night of swimming, and a special event for other reasons: we are making it possible for swimmers and families of both teams to participate in a Swim Across America fundraising event that will benefit the fight against childhood cancer in honor of East Cobb’s own Grace Bunke*. She was a classmate of several on the North Forest Swim team and while she lost her battle against cancer earlier this year, we are honored to fundraise for this wonderful cause to commemorate our beloved ‘Amazing Grace’. Please take a few minutes to view this video to understand our connection to this lovely young friend and athlete. Spoiler alert – is very touching!

At the meet on Monday, will be collecting donations for Swim Across America and selling red umbrellas ($20).The red umbrellas represent Grace’s faith that the impossible can become possible - a cure for cancer. Donations can be made in cash, checks made payable to ‘Swim Across Atlanta’ or via this link.

Also, for North Forest swimmers, in lieu of our ‘open swim’ on Tuesday morning, we are hosting a ‘lap-a-thon’ and families can donate to support their swimmers efforts (have your swimmer set a goal and fund them ‘per-length’ or simply provide a flat donation). The kids get very motivated and in years past have pushed over 100+ lengths – just sayin’! Swimmers of all ages are welcome to join the event. Swim Across America will provide swim caps and other swag to participants! They will also be on hand to collect any additional donations.

Amazing Grace has taught all of us to “Just Keep Swimming” no matter what. So, thank you in advance for your generous donations and support and for making big waves in the fight against cancer and to help Grace reach her goal.

Thanks!

*Grace was a member of SwimAtlanta and was diagnosed at age 11 with a rare form of childhood bone cancer. After 18 round of chemotherapy, a leg amputation and two lung surgeries, Grace found comfort in the water and transitioned from running to swimming. She was a freshman on the Walton High School swim team and was invited to join Team USA as part of the US Paralympic Team. In July of 2017 Grace relapsed again, but this time on her spine. Grace endured 26 rounds of radiation and amazingly enough, just kept swimming. Grace swam in the one-mile open water event at Swim Across America after stopping oral chemotherapy the week before the event. Not only did Grace swim, but she helped raise close to $20,000 to help fund childhood cancer research at the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Before Grace passed, she set one more goal. To be the nation’s top individual fundraiser for Swim Across America this year. Grace's courage, determination, positivity, and selflessness in the face of cancer is why we have decided to help her reach her goal posthumously.