New York, NY, Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On September 10, 2026, a team of swimmers, including cancer survivors, will circle the island of Manhattan in a 28.5-mile open-water swim. Together, they seek to raise funds and awareness for a critical, often invisible barrier to cancer treatment in Kenya: a severe shortage of the equipment needed to safely deliver chemotherapy.
The event, Swim for Hope, will benefit Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), a faith-based global health nonprofit. Swim logistics are supported by Urban Swim. It begins at 7 a.m. at Battery Park and will support CMMB’s work to equip the Phangisile Mtshali Cancer Center in Kitui County, Kenya, and other regional health facilities with treatment and chemotherapy ports—devices that enable safe, reliable chemo delivery.
CMMB has worked for years to increase access to cancer care in Kitui County, Kenya, where survival odds are sharply reduced due to late diagnosis and limited treatment options. In partnership with the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, CMMB built and equipped the Phangisile Mtshali Cancer Center at Kitui County Referral Hospital in 2023, trained health workers in screening and palliative care, and deployed community health workers to raise awareness and support patients.
Though access to care is expanding, too many patients struggle to go through treatment without a chemo port. Without them, patients face repeated, painful attempts to administer treatment through damaged veins. This results in care that’s delayed or even abandoned by the patient.
“I have been treated for esophageal and prostate cancer, so I know what quality care means—and what its absence costs. Every stroke around Manhattan is for the patient in Kitui who deserves the same chance I’ve had,” said Derek Yach, Global Health Advisor to CMMB. “CMMB’s faith-driven mission and my own belief that dignified, compassionate care is a right, not a privilege, is why this swim matters to me.”
Swimmers will cover 25.8 miles around Manhattan, but their impact goes far beyond that. With every stroke, they are working to eliminate a major gap in Kenya’s cancer care. This swim is a lifesaving endeavor.
Members of the public can support the swimmers and their efforts at cmmb.org/swimforhope.
Event Details
What: Swim for Hope, a 28.5-mile open-water swim around Manhattan
When: September 10, 2026, starting at 7 a.m. | estimated finish at 3 p.m.
Where: Battery Park, New York, NY
Donate: cmmb.org/swimforhope
About CMMB
Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) is a faith-based non-governmental organization working around the world to love our neighbor by bringing healthcare closer to home. Guided by its vision of a world in which every human life is valued, and health and human dignity are shared by all, CMMB partners globally to strengthen healthcare systems and expand access to sustainable, high-quality care for underserved communities.
Emma Cashman Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) (646) 389-5029 communications@cmmb.org
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