Prepared by: Swim Across America For Immediate Release

swimacrossamerica.org

Contact: Jenifer Howard | 203-273-4246

jhoward@jhowardpr.com

A Story of Friendship and A Cause: How Two Strangers United in

their Cancer Journeys and Now Run the Swim Across America
Charleston-Kiawah Open Water Swim
Brad Johnson and Jana Chanthabane Are Co-Chairing the June 12 Open Water Swim

Kiawah Island, S.C., May 27, 2022 — Brad Johnson and Jana Chanthabane didn’t know
each other until they met and joined the Swim Across America community in 2018 when the
inaugural Swim Across America Charleston-Kiawah swim took place. What brought them to
the swimming event was much deeper than the beautiful location and their love of swimming.
Both Brad and Jana are cancer survivors – Jana is a breast cancer survivor and Brad is a head
and neck cancer survivor. Since getting involved with the Swim Across America event, which
raises funds to fight cancer, both took on larger roles than just swimming – they are also the co-
event directors and lead the organization in raising crucial funds for the local Swim Across
America beneficiary the Hollings Cancer Center. This year’s swim is scheduled for Saturday,
June 12, 2022, at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Night Heron Park, and Brad and Jana are
once again running the event and are hoping to raise at least $75,000 for cancer research.

Jana Chanthabane was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35. As a young, fit, active
mom of three kids all under the age of nine, Jana was not “new” to cancer. Her dad had thyroid
cancer when she was a teenager and her cousin had just completed treatment for breast cancer
when Jana was diagnosed. “I remember being stuck with the feeling of needing to do SOME-
THING to help my girls for the future, my family and other women that I love,” said Jana.

For Brad Johnson, in 2003 he was diagnosed at age 27 with late-stage head and neck cancer.
He was lucky to find and enroll in a clinical trial at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that was in-
vestigating new treatment protocols for these rare, extremely aggressive head and neck can-
cers, which were starting to appear in younger people with no directly related risk factors. Dana-
Farber made a major impact on the way head and neck cancer is treated today. Prior to the clin-
ical trial, there were no effective treatment protocols.

“Since undergoing my cancer treatments, raising funds for cancer research and patient support
have been a big part of my life,” said Brad. “I know personally the impact that breakthrough re-
search can have on a person’s life and I want to see more cancer research save even more
lives. With Swim Across America events like the one in Charleston-Kiawah, we can all make a
difference.”

While Swim Across America has only held events in the Charleston-Kiawah area for five years,
the nonprofit organization has been making waves to fight cancer for 35 years and has gone
from a sunken boat in Long Island Sound to raising $100 million to fight cancer. This year cele-
brates Swim Across America’s 35th anniversary and the nonprofit organization is sharing “35
Stories of Impact” from throughout the decades on its anniversary website
swimacrossamerica.org/35. Jana and Brad’s stories are included in those stories of impact,
since they have had such a profound impact on the way cancer research is funded in the
Charleston-Kiawah area.

In the 35 years of Swim Across America’s existence, more than 100,000 swimmers and
Olympians have swum the circumference of the earth three times, uniting a movement to fight
cancer that has created a groundswell of support spanning all generations. Today, more than 24
communities hold open water swims and charity pool swims each year.

Swim Across America’s funding of clinical trials for patients helped contribute to four FDA ap-
proved life-saving immunotherapy cancer treatments: Yervoy, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Keytruda.
More than 60 scientific grants are funded each year and there are ten dedicated Swim Across
America Labs at major institutions including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, John Hopkins
Medicine Baltimore, Rush University Medical Center Chicago, Baylor Scott & White Charles A.
Sammons Cancer Center at Dallas, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, Nan-
tucket Cottage Hospital, Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket, Adolescent and Young
Adult (AYA) Lounge at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
Oakland and San Francisco and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Locally in the Charleston-Kiawah area, Swim Across America has raised more than $200,000
for its local beneficiary the Hollings Cancer Center. In late 2021, SAA - Charleston-Kiawah grant
recipient Dr. Haizhen Wang was awarded a five-year, $344,000 per year grant by the National
Cancer Institute (NCI) to pursue her early investigator studies in leukemia. Prior to receiving NCI
funding, Wang’s research was supported by $65,000 in grants from Swim Across America.

To learn more about the Charleston-Kiawah swim or to register to swim or volunteer, visit
swimacrossamerica.org/charleston.

To see Swim Across America’s “35 Stories of Impact,” featuring Brad Johnson and Jane Chan-
thabane's full story, visit swimacrossamerica.org/35.

About Swim Across America

Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer re-
search, 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. To learn more
visit swimacrossamerica.org or follow on Facebook @SwimAcrossAmerica or on Instagram or
Twitter @SAASwim.

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