Swim Across America raises $542,000 to benefit
Innovative Clinical Trials Center
E
arlier this year, scores of swimmers helped make
waves in the fight against cancer by participating in the
Swim Across America (SAA) event at Lake Ray Hubbard.
The event raised $542,000 and all proceeds will support
the Swim Across America Innovative Clinical Trials Center (ICTC)
at the Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas. The
event has surpassed the original four-year fundraising goal of SAA.
It has raised nearly $1.2 million since 2011 for the ICTC. This
includes a generous $180,000 gift this year from the Texas 7-Eleven
Franchise Owners Association.
“The Swim Across America Innovative Clinical Trials Center
allows us to bring hope to more patients with difficult-to-treat
cancers who have not responded to standard treatments,” said
Alan Miller, M.D., medical director, Baylor Sammons Cancer
Center and chief of oncology. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with Swim Across America and encourage anyone who has been affected by cancer in any way to get involved
as we continue our work to find a cure for cancer.”
The current ICTC, which opened in September 2013, offers
patients better access to a wide range of new research and treatment options, and expands the already extensive program of
cancer clinical trials offered at Baylor Sammons Cancer Center.
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More than 20 clinical trials are offered at the ICTC at any one
time, with more than 150 patients participating annually.
“The ICTC simplifies the process for patients participating in
a clinical trial by providing one location for clinical examinations, infusions, sample collection for lab work and follow-up,”
explained Carlos Becerra, M.D., medical director of the ICTC
and an oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor Sammons Cancer
Center. Dr. Becerra is also a perennial SAA participant. “The
ICTC is dedicated to providing access to treatment only available in a few centers around the world.”
For more information on cancer initiatives at Baylor, contact Timothy
Moore at 214.820.7877 or [email protected].