Team John Surpasses $2 Million raised for Cancer Research

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, a remarkable group of Scarsdale swimmers will once again enter the waters of the Long Island Sound with purpose, passion, and one unifying goal: to raise money and awareness for cancer research through Swim Across America. Known today as Team John, the group has become one of the most successful community-led fundraising teams in the country, recently surpassing a stunning milestone—over $2 million raised cumulatively for cancer research over the past 20 years.

Team John’s journey has been deeply personal from the start. Each summer, friends and families from Scarsdale and beyond have come together to swim in honor or memory of loved ones affected by cancer. Over the years, the team has swum under different names, each one a tribute: Team Hannah, Leslie, Cantor Merkel, Max, Sandie, Walt, Strong as Steele, Swimming for Susan, Paulie Strong, Cheryl, Valerie, Bruce, Dase, Stanley, and most recently, Team John.

This year, the team has chosen to permanently swim as Team John, in memory of longtime teammate, Scarsdale resident and dear friend John Needham, whose spirit continues to inspire every stroke.

“Crossing the $2 million mark is an extraordinary accomplishment, but even more meaningful is the community we’ve built through these swims,” said Joe Kaufman, one of this year’s team co-captains along with Josh Glantz. “Each name we’ve carried over the years represents a real person, a real story, and a reminder of why this effort matters.” For Team John, it’s also a day of remembrance, camaraderie, and hope.

Team John will be represented by an over 30-person roster this year, including returning swimmers and new faces who have all rallied to support the mission of Swim Across America: funding innovative cancer research, clinical trials, and patient programs at beneficiaries like the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, and the Cancer Support Team of Westchester.

This year’s team includes:
Patrick Bates, Ben Blaustein, Eldad Blaustein, Ilai Blaustein, Tal Blaustein, Diane Calderon, Jack Callahan, TJ Callahan, Peter Doyle, Elissa Elkowitz, Alan Fishman, Josh Glantz, Julian Glantz, Noah Glantz, Robert Goodman, Razy Hirschberg, Joe Kaufman, Jonathan Lenchner, Teresa Maldonado, Hudson Malsch, Jeffrey Malsch, Dan Needham, Jeannine Palermo, Douglas Rachlin, Chip Rich, James Roth, Miles Rubin, Justine Smith, Joel Talish, Howard Weinberg, and Michael Zeller.

The Swim Across America Long Island Sound Swim is a beloved summer tradition, with swimmers choosing to complete distances 2k, 5k, and even 10k from Glen Cove to Larchmont.

To support Team John or learn more about the swim, visit this year’s Team John page on the Swim Across America website.

As they dive in once again this weekend, Team John carries with them the memory of those they’ve lost, the strength of those still fighting, and the determination to help find a cure—one swim at a time.