Jesus tells us to love one another. We are called not only to accept love, but to extend it to those around us.    

Last week, a team of four swimmers went to extraordinary lengths to extend love. In the early hours of the morning, they set off from New York City’s Battery Park for an open-water swim around the entirety of Manhattan. Over eight hours later, they successfully completed this feat. Their purpose: to raise awareness and funds for CMMB’s work to strengthen access to quality cancer care in Kenya.  

“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, who participated in the swim and is a cancer survivor. “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.” 

Today, we celebrate our Swim for Hope team, and all of you who supported them, with such gratitude. Their expression of love will be felt all the way in Kenya—and it will only continue to grow. The swim is over, but our work continues to ensure that people diagnosed with cancer in rural Kenya have access to quality care close to home and delivered with dignity.