Cancer-Fundraising Swimmers Cross Strait of Messina and Baltic Sea
On 13 August, 36‑year‑old Federico, a patient in remission from chronic myeloid leukemia, joined the AIL‑organized amateur crossing of the Strait of Messina. He swam about 3 km from Torre Faro (Messina) to Cannitello (Villa San Giovanni) to convey a message of hope and solidarity for cancer research.
Polish athlete Bartłomiej “Foka” Kubkowski completed a 160 km swim across the Baltic Sea in 55 hours, finishing on a beach near Dziwnów. The feat raised roughly 850,000 zł (about €197,000) for the Fondazione per la Lotta contro il Cancro. Kubkowski endured cold water, high waves and extreme fatigue, including hallucinations near the end, while being supported by a safety team.
Both swims were undertaken to raise awareness and funds for cancer research, highlighting personal perseverance and community support.
Entities: Associazione Italiana contro le Leucemie, Linfomi e Mieloma (AIL) · Bartłomiej Kubkowski · Federico · Fondazione per la Lotta contro il Cancro · Strait of Messina