Charlestown Resident Swimming for Breast Cancer Prevention

Charlestown resident Thomas Quinn is participating in the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition's annual Against the Tide fundraising event on June 18.

Quinn is once again competing in the competitive swim, along with his wife, Amanda Van Veen, who will be running to support the MBCC's unique goal of breast cancer prevention.

Quinn's mother passed away from breast cancer when he was young. "This cause is near and dear to my heart," Quinn said, which is why he is participating again with the MBCC to help raise awareness and find a way to prevent breast cancer altogether.   

MBCC is a statewide grassroots advocacy organization that seeks answers to what is causing breast cancer in order to offer changes that will lead towards breast cancer prevention.

Massachusetts' breast cancer rate is nearly 10 percent higher than the national average, with some women in Greater Boston and Cape Cod bearing some of the highest risk for breast cancer in the world. More than 1 in 7 women risk a breast cancer diagnosis during her lifetime; and, while breast cancer is typically a disease affecting older women, more and more younger women are being diagnosed with very aggressive forms of the disease.

The Against the Tide event is a one-mile competitive or recreational swim, 2-mile kayak, 3-mile walk, or a 5k run. Participants can participate in three of the five events.

Donations may be sent to the following address:
Against the Tide c/o MBCC
1419 Hancock Street, Suite 202
Quincy, MA 02169