Two events this weekend will offer the chance to get out on the waterfront and raise some much-needed funds for pediatric cancer research and patient support programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Tonight from 7 to 10 p.m., there will be a Summer Splash cocktail party at Gallagher Beach, located at 1111 Fuhrmann Boulevard. Tickets are $75 and will include open bar and gourmet fare from several local restaurants, including 31 Club, Bacchus, Encore, Marco’s Italian Restaurant, Papaya, Salsarita’s, Sinful, Snooty Fox, SoHo Burger Bar and Tempo. There will also be high-value raffle prizes and music by local DJ Johnny Fee. Guests are encouraged to wear something lime green and chic for the party’s theme–“Step Into the Limelight.”
On Sunday, the tenth anniversary of Carly’s Crossing will take place at Gallagher Beach. This open-water swim fundraiser was founded in 2002 by Joe Zwierzchowski to honor the memory of his friend, Carly Collard Cottone. Joe and approximately 40 other swimmers wanted to complete a marathon swim, with each swimmer taking turns swimming one mile at a time until they reached 26.2 miles. Unfortunately, stormy weather kept them from finishing their marathon swim, so Joe and the others will be attempting to finish the marathon they started 10 years ago at the event this Sunday.
Local swimmers can take part in one of three open-water courses: a one-mile timed course, a one-mile noncompetitive course, or a 600-yard noncompetitive course. Registration for the events will open at 7 a.m. and first heats will depart at 7:45 a.m. If you’re not going to be in the water this Sunday, you can still help with the fundraising by volunteering or attending the beachside party going on during and after the swim courses. There will be live music, games, food and a basket raffle.
All funds raised through this weekend’s events will go to support pediatric cancer research at Roswell. Carly’s Club for Kids & Cancer Research funds research in the area of drug resistance and pediatric tumors. Some proceeds also go toward support programs that help make life more manageable for pediatric patients and their families. To donate to the cause online or find out more information, visit www.CarlysCrossing.org.