Swimming for a cause at 32nd annual 'Swim Across America' event

LARCHMONT, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Hundreds of people tackled the challenge of one of the longest open water swims to help raise funds for cancer research at the 32nd annual “Swim Across America” event in Larchmont, New York.

Swimmers took off from the Larchmont Yacht Club and swam a little over a mile to the Shore Club. Some took on the challenge of swimming from Glen Cove, Long Island, a little over six miles away.

The event is especially meaningful to the Larchmont community this year with one of the biggest teams swimming in the name of Gina Mannix Wente. She swam the same race as a child but lost her battle to breast cancer earlier this year after a surprise diagnosis, three weeks after giving birth to her son.      

Many of her family attended the race including her siblings who swam in her honor.

“It was really emotional. We’ve been doing it for years now. First we swam for our uncle Jim, and then our grandpa, and now for her. It’s really special to do,” Richard Mannix told PIX11 News. 

Richard’s family was there to support him, including his siblings who got teary eyed after his race.

“It’s a lot…it’s really helpful. Hopefully it helps someone else in the future. It’d be really great for them to not have to go through what we did,” Richard continued.

The Swim Across America event in Larchmont alone has raised $25 million dollars over the years that goes to Memorial Sloan Kettering and several other beneficiaries in the name of cancer research.