Swim Across America Atlanta Holds Pool Relay Swim November 6

Swimmers and volunteers will dive in and make a big splash on Sunday, November 6, at a Swim Across America Team Relay Charity Pool Swim in honor of UGA swim team member Jacob Larrazabal, who sadly lost his fight with Ewing sarcoma, a very rare and highly aggressive form of bone cancer in November 2021, at just 19 years old. Jacob was a proud member of the UGA club swimming team and was known as one of the most ambitious and outgoing athletes on the team. Prior to swimming on the UGA club team, Jacob attended Thomas University where he swam for the varsity team. Before college, he swam for the Wild Timber Team Extreme, Buford High School and Swim Atlanta. He was also a coach for the Athens Bulldog Swim Club. Jacob was extremely devoted to swimming and would not let anything deter him - even a cancer diagnosis.

Jacob is most remembered for his desire to persevere and not allow his cancer diagnosis to stop him from enjoying life. While he passed away just 11 months after his cancer diagnosis, during that time and throughout his treatment, Jacob continued to train and swim at Swim Atlanta-Sugarloaf. His coaches and swim friends provided him with the opportunity to remain physically active as they encouraged and challenged him on his journey.

“There is a lot of shared courage that will be on the pool deck on November 6,” said Vicki Bunke, who is helping to organize the swim. Vicki’s own 14 year old daughter Grace also lost her battle with osteosarcoma a few years ago, so Vicki knows from personal experience how important raising funds for cancer research is today and for tomorrow. “My daughter Grace had a stuffed animal that was a lion named Courage. Before Grace passed away, she passed on Courage to another young cancer patient Henry Shepherd. Henry also had osteosarcoma and was inspired by Grace to choose the same type of rotationplasty surgery to remove the cancerous portion of his leg and reattach his leg backwards, that Grace had. Henry, who is now 17, will be swimming in Sunday’s Pool Relay.

The Swim Across America Atlanta Team Relay Charity Pool Swim is not a race, but rather a swim that makes waves to fight cancer. Swimmers of all levels and abilities participate. So far, more than $38,318 has been raised for Sunday's swim - and the amount is still growing! Funds raised support the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and will fund crucial research being done today to help save those children who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Teams will swim for 1-1/2 hours, with only one team member swimming for each team at any given time. There will be no limit to how long or how far each team can swim. Teams get to decide how they will swim their relay and swimmers can use any stroke they want.

Swim Across America Atlanta is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current Olympians, Swim Across America is helping find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. Nationwide, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million to fight cancer. To learn more visit swimacrossamerica.org/atlanta. Special Thanks so sponsors Proof of the Pudding, Currahee Storage, P4 Childhood Cancer Foundation, Reddiset and Mizuno.