Swimming the Crossing for Breast Cancer: 20 Hours in 50 degree F water, swimming over two days in support of the Breast Cancer Treatment Support Mission Project

(San Juan County, WA) - Orcas Island resident and photojournalist, Damien Stark will swim a 19.5 mile route from the Anacortes ferry terminal to Orcas Island and then Orcas Island to San Juan Island over the weekend of July 26th and 27th to raise awareness and funds for the Breast Cancer Treatment Support Mission Project (360/378-4474). This San Juan County Health and Community Service, funded by the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation (Puget Sound Affiliate, wwww.komen.org) since 2002, provides travel cost support in the form of ferry tickets, and gas and mileage reimbursement to San Juan County residents with breast cancer seeking diagnostic or treatment services on the mainland.

During 2007, with the assistance of the Komen Foundation, the Breast Cancer Treatment Support Mission Project served 29 San Juan County-based women by covering $20,000 in travel expenses. Stark would like for more women to have access to this support, which is the impetus for his swim (and symbolically follows the same water route the women undertake when traveling to the mainland for breast cancer treatment). Fundraising and awareness efforts are well underway, with an informational website and on-line donation opportunities in place (www.breastcancerswim.com), plus donation sites set up at Key Banks located on Orcas and San Juan Islands. 100 percent of the monies raised from the swim will directly support the important and essential services provided by the Breast Cancer Treatment Support Mission Project.

In 1999 while living in San Francisco and working as a photojournalist and EMT, my friend Dr. Reva Lee was diagnosed with leukemia. I quit all my jobs to be her full time caregiver until her death on January 13, 2000. Reva's life was driven by a philosophy she called "The Gift", a social contract. Someone gives, you receive and you pay a return on their investment that may take a variety of forms. Following Reva's lead, this swim to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Treatment Support Mission Project is my gift to those with breast cancer.

I began swimming two years ago and have progressed to swimming open water (East Sound, Orcas Island) every other day, and have swum over 400 miles to date.

I received a donation from a women the other day. There was no letter, only a check. But attached to the check was a yellow post-it note with the hand-written words, "In memory of Sara Scribner-Coughlin." That's why I'm doing this swim.

It's my hope that this swim may inspire others to do something for someone else. It doesn't matter for what cause, or even how much is raised. What matters is that in a world where things sometime are not perfect, that others are not forgotten. If I can help ease the burden of just one person, I have succeeded. If I spark someone else to do something, I have succeeded.

And there is no greater joy than that. Damien Stark