SwimRI Gives Back via Open-Water Charity Swims

Thank you to the SwimRI members and others who supported Rhode Island’s charity swims last summer, including the Narrow River Turnaround (watershed preservation), the Waterman Eco-Challenge (educational arts scholarship), the Save The Bay Swim (watershed preservation), and the Swim Across America – Rhode Island Charity Swim (cancer research grants).

SwimRI’s fundraising teams raised ~$43K for Save The Bay and ~$20K for cancer research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. Special thanks to SwimRI’s SAA-RI volunteers, especially Elizabeth Beisel for emceeing this year’s event and continuing to share her family’s story.

Individual SwimRI members’ marathon swims for charity:

  • In 2021, Elizabeth Beisel became the first woman to successfully swim from mainland Rhode Island (East Matunuck) to Block Island, raising over $150K for pancreatic cancer research.

  • In July 2022, Christina Lorenson became the first woman to swim around Conanicut Island (Jamestown), raising over $13K for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

  • In September 2022, Trent Theroux swam from Montauk to Misquamicut, raising over $50K for RISE Against Paralysis. This achievement caps a decade of epic marathon swims by Trent in support of this cause, including Back to Block (Point Judith to Block Island backstroke), Back to Newport (first person to swim around Aquidneck Island), Back to Britain (English Channel attempt), and Back to Rhode Island (Long Island to Rhode Island).


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