Peddie Swimmers and Golfers Raise Funds for Cancer Research

Both Peddie Aquatics and Peddie Golf team spent the past weekend raising funds and awareness for Cancer research. In two separate events on the same day, the teams raised a collective $22,049.

The Peddie swim team and Peddie Aquatics teamed up in a “Peddie Swimmers Go Gold” event, swimming laps to benefit pediatric cancer research, while the Peddie Golf team hosted “Swing against Cancer,” a golf tournament benefitting the American Cancer Society.

“Peddie swimmers are among the best in the country, and they also have great heart and compassion,” head coach Greg Wriede said. Speaking about the combined efforts of the Peddie Swim Team and the Peddie Aquatics Club, Wriede said the swimmers completed a total of 145 miles in one hour, and raised a total of $12,140.

These funds will go to the Make Some Noise Foundation, supporting pediatric cancer research. Headed up by Peddie alum Julie Sutherland ’82, Make Some Noise was established by Sutherland’s son, Malcolm, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 10 (Malcolm’s brother Harry graduated from Peddie in 2011). While undergoing aggressive treatment, Malcolm realized that there was little awareness for pediatric cancer, and established the Make Some Noise foundation to raise funding for pediatric cancer research.

Saturday’s event kicked off with a 50 freestyle shootout for high school and senior level club swimmers, and Jeremy Wong ’12 returned to Peddie from Princeton for the day to participate. Following the shootout, all members of both the high school and the club teams donned gold swim caps (gold is the official color for pediatric cancer awareness) and participated in the swim-a-thon.

On the same day, the Peddie boys and girls golf teams hosted the second annual Swing Against Cancer Golf Invitational, which raises money to benefit the American Cancer Society through the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Ten boys' teams and seven girls' teams participated in the tournament, and collectively raised $10,000 for the cause. “It was great to see the growth in this event in just one year, both in the number of teams participating and in the amount of money raised,” said head coach Ben Bickford. “The teams really went above and beyond for the event, fundraising, setting up flags and hole signs (donated in honor or memory of individuals), and hosting. It was truly a great day for a great cause.”

Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration started by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball coaches that empowers coaches, teams and communities to join the fight against cancer. To date, the organization has raised more than $87 million for the American Cancer Society.