Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Team Hydro Foundation will host the 18th Alcatraz Swim for Hydrocephalus Research on August 13th, 2022.  This year ~40 Team Hydro swimmers will once again brave the bay in hopes of helping drive progress towards a cure.

Dr. Samuel Finlayson, MD, PhD, is a Team Hydro co-founder and Chief Medical Officer.  “At Team Hydro, we take our founding mission to help cure hydrocephalus very seriously,” he says. “This means directing every dollar donated for research into projects designed to uncover novel mechanisms of disease and/or to design and develop new treatments.  It also means building up a research community by investing in up-and-coming researchers in the field to help them secure large follow-on grants from public and private organizations.” 

To date, this approach has been very successful: Team Hydro has funded a dozen research projects on three continents, which together have already identified several new potential therapies and secured a 7x multiplier in follow-up funding from government agencies.  “Seeing this next generation of athletes join the cause is a great reminder both of where we have come from, and all the excitement we have for work yet to come.”

100% of funds raised by the Team Hydro Swim for Hydrocephalus Research will go directly toward funding these important hydrocephalus research grants. 

There are still a few spots remaining in the swim; interested swimmers can register at https://donate.teamhydro.org.  And if you aren’t quite brave (dumb?) enough to take the plunge, you can donate to the cause using that same link!

The Dorset Dolphin Swim Team in Marietta, Georgia is at it again!  They take to the water on June 10th for the sixth time as they swim in support Lilly, of one of their teammates, as well as a former teammate and coach’s family member who are all living with shunted hydrocephalus.  

The Dolphins will all swim as long and as far as they can on to raise funds and awareness for hydrocephalus research.  All funds they raise will go directly to support Team Hydro Foundation’s supported research projects

The skies were dark, the weather was windy and cold, and the water was churning with unusually high swells and chop as 40 Team Hydro swimmers prepared for the 2021 Alcatraz Swim for Hydrocephalus Research!  There is no question that the conditions pricked at our nerves as we prepared to jump into the Bay, but the camaraderie of the swimmers united in our quest to find a cure for this difficult disease made it impossible to dampen our spirits — so into the water we went!

Buoyed by our desire to honor the strength, courage, and perseverance of the over one million Americans who struggle and fight every single day as they seek to live with hydrocephalus, our intrepid swimmers battled the waves and the cold and ALL made it safely back to shore where they were greeted by cheering family, friends and other on-land supporters.  The efforts of the Team also raised an incredible $84,000 and counting!   Because Team Hydro continues to operate with zero-overhead model (any costs are underwritten by targeted sponsorships), every single penny of this amazing total will go directly to fund important hydrocephalus research! 

There is no question that the Team continues to be motivated by the importance of our mission to find a cure for this difficult and often devastating disease. The Team got fired up for the swim by listening to the stories of hydrocephalus patients, several of whom were swimming with us!  Kate Damrell and Kyle Voulgaris who both live with shunted hydrocephalus talked about the challenges and uncertainty that impact their lives every day, and three year old Amelia also warmed our hearts with a sweet hello from the arms of her father Tom Coury who completed his fourth crossing with Team Hydro!  Each speaker expressed gratitude to the swimmers, donors and on-land supporters who are helping to ensure a brighter future for people living with hydrocephalus by supporting research.

Pam Finlayson, mother of a patient who passed away 10 years ago from the condition underscored this message of gratitude as she reflected on her swim, “For me the swim provided a new challenge as I swam for the first time without a wetsuit!  I made it across successfully mostly because I was inspired thinking of Kate and the many friends and family who have supported us during our life’s journey!  As I bounced up and down in the waves and chop, I couldn’t help but be grateful for all those who have and still encourage and support us– not only as we struggled during Kate’s lifelong illness and later sought to come to terms with her passing, but now as we seek to continue to raise funds for ongoing research year after year!  Your goodness and generosity astounds and inspires us!  Thank you so very much for your love, encouragement and support!”

There is no question that our 2021 swim was a resounding success!  Thank you so very much to EVERY swimmer, donor and on-land supporter helping to make our hope of finding new treatments and a cure for hydrocephalus a reality!

Please read HERE about our approach to research, and the incredible research your donations are currently helping to fund!  

http://teamhydro.org/our-research/ 

In another remarkable show of selfless desire to use their swimming skills to help others, the Dorset Dolphin Swim Team in Marietta, Georgia will take to the water on June 25th, 2021!  This will be the fifth year that the Dorset Dolphins will swim in support of one of their teammates as well as a former teammate and coach’s family member who are all living with shunted hydrocephalus.   Needless to say, after skipping the 2020 swim season due to COVID, the Dorset Dolphins are SO excited to be back in the pool in 2021!   The Dolphins will all swim as long and as far as they can on June 25th to raise funds and awareness for hydrocephalus research.  All funds they raise will go directly to support Team Hydro Foundation’s supported research projects.

The Dolphin Dash provides an opportunity for these young athletes to learn about hydrocephalus and build awareness of the need for increased research, all while helping to find a cure for hydrocephalus!  Please help these Dolphins reach their goal of $10,000 100% of which will go directly to funding research!! 

Amazon is willing to make a contribution to Team Hydro every time you make a purchase.  There is no cost to you, and all the products and prices are the same!  All you need to do is take 90 seconds to set it up.

• Just visit SMILE.AMAZON.COM and select Team Hydro Foundation as your charity of choice.

Then start your amazon shopping at smile.amazon.com and they will AUTOMATICALLY make a donation to Team Hydro Foundation.  Every penny we receive will go straight to research!

The 2020 swim for hydrocephalus was put on hold due to COVID. But the Little Falls Swim Team members still rallied to support research. Photo: 2016 Swimmers for Hydrocephalus

The Little Falls Penguins of Bethesda, Maryland have been holding annual swims to raise funds for Team Hydro’s research grants for eight years now.  Inspired by the story of their fallen teammate, Kate Finlayson, they find that using their swimming skills to contribute positively to the world and serve those in need is a wonderful way to live.  This year, COVID-19 upended their season and they have had to adjust — as have we all.  But it takes more than a global pandemic to stop a penguin.  Especially a Little Falls Penguin!  These bold swimmers have kept up their annual commitment to pushing hydrocephalus research forward. 

Assistant Coach and current swimmer James Marder reached out to Team Hydro to see how they could keep the spirit of giving back alive.  “When I first took part in our Penguin Plunge at eight years old, I didn’t truly understand its nature, I saw it as a competition to swim the most laps,” said James.  “As years past, I came to see the true reason we participate in this tradition, and I decided that I wanted to do all I could to still raise money in the year without the event.”

In these trying times it is wonderful to have examples like the swimmers at Little Falls who look beyond themselves to lift up those around them.  While covid stopped a lot, it didn’t stop hydrocephalus.  And it hasn’t stopped Team Hydro or the Penguins in our quest to fund a cure!

You can support the efforts of the Little Falls Penguins and help them reach there goal HERE.  100% of funds received go directly to research!

See examples of what folks are doing HERE

. 

Nina ran a half marathon for hydrocephalus research. What will YOU do this month?

Coronavirus forced us to cancel all our 2020 Group Swim Events – but hydrocephalus patients and researchers need support now more than ever!  That is why we are pleased to announce this ‘choose your own adventure’ event.  Contribute and get involved HERE!

Just set a goal that you will accomplish between now and August 29th (the intended date of our Alcatraz Swim).  You could run.  Swim.  Walk.  Do push-ups. Pledge to read a certain number of books.  Lose some weight. It doesn’t matter WHAT you do — so long as you are doing it in the name of the 1million Americans (and countless worldwide) afflicted with hydrocephalus.

For example, Pam “Gramma” Finlayson is determined that she will swim the combined lengths of Upper and Lower Suncook Lakes — nearly TWICE the distance of the Alcatraz Swim! Nina will train for and run a half marathon!  Peter is committed to shedding 10 lbs.  Get creative, get determined, and make a difference.  

Once you’ve set the goal, reach out to friends and family and post the link to this page on social media asking for support.  100% of funds raised go to hydrocephalus research.

Make a donation yourself to get the ball rolling, and then you’re off to the (virtual) races!  🙂