Like many others, Michael Phelps had a fear of the water as a young child. However, that didn’t deter Cathy Bennett from helping Michael develop comfort and confidence in the water. Now, as Bennett battles cancer for the second time, Phelps is diving into the water again to headline a Swim Across America charity event on Wednesday, Aug. 28, to honor his good friend with proceeds from the charity swim to benefit cancer research.
Bennett, whom Phelps affectionately refers to as Ms. Cathy, is the Program Director of the Michael Phelps Foundation where she oversees the Foundation’s signature program – IM – which provides learn-to-swim, recreational aquatic activities, organized swim instruction, as well as health, wellness, and goal-setting programming.
“Ms. Cathy and her family mean so much to me, my family, the Foundation, and countless others in the swimming community and I wanted to honor her with this charity swim,” said Phelps. “Ms. Cathy has never been one to seek any kind of attention, but raising awareness with Swim Across America to benefit cancer research will hopefully help find a cure for all forms of cancer.”
Phelps, the most decorated swimmer in World Championships history and 28-time Olympic medalist, retired from competitive swimming in 2016. The proceeds from the charity swim will benefit the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Since 1987, Swim Across America has granted nearly $100 million to fund cancer research at Johns Hopkins, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson and other institutions.
The event will be on August 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kino Aquatics Center in Mesa, Arizona. The charity swim is limited to 50 participants and each participant must donate or raise a minimum of $1,000. Olympic gold medalist Allison Schmitt and Phelps’ long-time coach Bob Bowman are anticipated to be in attendance as well.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Swim Across America. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
Good man! ✅
Love it! Is the swim televised?
Can he take back his 200 fly record while doing so? ?
Trying to register for this even. but nothing on SAA website for Arizona…
benefit to cancer then. The More we have “research“ The More people have cancer.
Way to go Michael by remembering where you started! I worked with Cathy’s first husband Jim Lears who died very suddenly over 15 years ago. I remember the Lears family rooting for you from the beginning Cathy is an amazing woman and I hope your swim will help with the cancer research.
This is great. Cathy sounds amazing. I live in Owings Mills. If it was in Maryland, I would try to go to the event.