Success at Boston Harbor!

Some 40 Team Hydro swimmers raced across the Boston Harbor today in one of our most successful swims to date!

Harbor HydroSharks included a developmental neurobiologist from Harvard who specializes in Hydrocephalus-related work, medical students and researchers from Harvard Medical school and MIT, industry experts at pharmaceutical companies Biogen and Genentech, competitive triathletes, nurses, employees of the Harvard Business School, and family members of Hydrocephalus patients!

Team Hydro was also well represented on the award podium, with third time Team Hydro swimmer Thomas Norris coming in second for the swim overall, and nearly 10 swimmers receiving medals in their individual age groups.

Most importantly, funding and much awareness was raised for this important cause.  (But we’re not done yet — donate here!  tinyurl.com/THdonate2015)

THANK YOU to all who made today great, and stay tuned for further updates and pictures from this wonderful event!

Team Hydro to Sponsor HANDS Innovator Awards!

Team Hydro is proud to announce it will sponsor one or more 2015 Innovator Awards through the Hydrocephalus Association Network for Discovery Science  (H.A.N.D.S).

These awards will be given to investigators who develop projects designed to further “understanding of disease mechanisms and the identification and pre-clinical testing of therapies to prevent or reverse all forms of hydrocephalus. The goal of this award initiative is to provide seed funding for bold and innovative research with the potential to transform the field of hydrocephalus through the understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of novel therapies.”

Applications for the Awards have been solicited and submitted.  Awards will be announced in mid-October!

Thank you for supporting Team Hydro  in its mission to fund  Hydrocephalus Research!!

More info on H.A.N.D.S. and the Innovator Awards can be found here:
http://hands.hydroassoc.org

Support the cause with a general donation here:
Note: if you’re swimming TH Boston Harbor, be sure to set up your fundraising page, or at least share this general donation link: http://tinyurl.com/thdonate2015!

 

Boston “Hah-bah” Swim on September 19th!

Team Hydro’s Third Annual Boston Harbor swim takes place on September 19th.  Come meet, greet, celebrate, and support the cause from around 7-11am at the finish line by the John Joseph Moakly US Courthouse!  We’d love to see you with us in the Hah-bah (as the locals say)!  Some swim spots still available, so let us know if you’d like to take the plunge: info@teamhydro.org

In addition to the Hah-Bah plunge, Team Hydro swims from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco annually, and participates in other open water swims as well (including Washington DC, and Boston), to raise funds and awareness for Hydrocephalus Research. We work in conjunction with the non-profit Hydrocephalus Association, (a 401(3)c organization and are proud to report that every penny we receive from donations goes 100% to research!

Inspired by the courage and grace of their sister Kate as she battled hydrocephalus, and frustrated by the outdated treatments and lack of awareness and research, brothers Peter and Sam Finlayson decided to turn their concern and feelings of helplessness into action. With the help of friends they formed Team Hydro in 2008 and began swimming in the Sharkfest Escape from Alcatraz Open Water Swim to raise money for Research. The Team worked and grew for several years, and just months before Kate’s death, Team Hydro raised enough funds to sponsor the first ever, Team Hydro/Kate Finlayson Research Grant.

Today, Team Hydro continues the fight against Hydrocephalus in Kate’s honor (and honestly, in honor of ALL who suffer from hydrocephalus), and humbly accepts contributions toward future research grants in her name. The Finlayson Family continues to underwrite all TeamHydro expenses, so that every penny donated to Team Hydro goes directly and completely to Research!!

Why are Team Hydro Swimmers willing to jump into the water to promote Hydrocephalus Research?!

Because…

…Hydrocephalus affects over 1 million Americans and there is no Cure!

…People “survive” cancer, stroke, and traumatic brain injury, only to later DIE from resultant hydrocephalus.

…60% of children diagnosed with hydrocephalus will never live independently!

…1 in 3 shunts (the most common form of treatment) will fail within a year of implantation, requiring more brain surgery to repair/replace the device!

…Up to 20% of Older adults experiencing dementia and thought to have Alzheimer’s, may actually have a TREATABLE form of Hydrocephalus, misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness!

….Shunt implantations for hydrocephalus are the most common cause of brain surgery in children!

These facts, and more like them, are why we swim!!!
Hydrocephalus remains an incurable and under-researched condition!!
Help us make a difference!
Donate TODAY!
http://tinyurl.com/TeamHydroDonate2015

Thank you for helping improve the lives of millions currently living with hydrocephalus as we endeavor to fulfill Kate’s dream that one day, no more people will need to suffer and lose their lives to the difficult, life-threatening, and currently incurable condition!!

Team Hydro–Taking a bite out of Hydrocephalus—One Stroke at a Time!

To Join Us as a Swimmer–check out the pages describing our Swims and sign up! Feel free to email us: info@teamhydro.org