When Tom Boucher steps onto Ohio Street Beach for this year’s Swim Across America Chicago Open Water Swim, it will be with a new perspective — that of a cancer survivor.
“It’ll be quite emotional, to say the least,” he said. “When I line up to start that day, I’ll be very grateful to the whole community.”
In November 2025, Boucher was diagnosed with non-small cell carcinoma, a form of lung cancer. Following treatment at Rush, he is now in remission.
Boucher has found a community of support through Swim Across America, or SAA. The nonprofit organization has partnered with Rush since 2012 to raise more than $3 million to support cancer research, leading-edge patient care and clinical trials.
Connection and support
When Boucher first joined SAA’s Chicago Open Water Swim, he was driven by his connection to Larry Field, a longtime philanthropic partner to Rush who served as a trustee from 1994 to 2023. At the time, Field was the chair of Field Holdings, where Boucher is employed. And until his passing two years ago, Field supported Boucher’s swims.
“I thought it was something great to be involved with,” Boucher said. “The whole community, the people who are there to support family members or acquaintances of those affected by cancer, is just amazing.”
Boucher swam in grade school and high school, and later did triathlons for many years, including open water swims. His first year with SAA, he went solo. But in his second year, he was joined by his partner for the past 15 years, Melinda Remaly. This year will mark their fourth Chicago Open Water Swim together.
“Melinda has been my rock through all this,” Boucher said. “After watching me do the first, she said: ‘I can do that.’ So, we’re a team. It’s become an annual event for us.”
Diagnoses and treatment
After a shoulder injury in August 2025 following a swim around Key West, Boucher was sent for an MRI. That’s when an orthopedic doctor found a spot on his right upper lung. The doctor told him not to worry, but Boucher’s general practitioner sent him to see a pulmonologist. A biopsy confirmed the spot was cancerous.
“It changes your whole outlook on life,” Boucher said. “You get that phone call, and they say the spot is cancerous and everything changes. It snowballed pretty quickly. As things started to progress, I reached out to Rush.”
Boucher was introduced to Michael J. Liptay, MD, the Mary and John Bent Chair of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery at Rush. Boucher was surprised that Liptay came in on a day off to meet with him. He appreciated Liptay’s straightforward treatment plan and willingness to make himself available should Boucher have any questions.
Boucher had surgery to remove the full upper lobe of his lung in December 2025.
“The exceptional staff at Rush scheduled and completed my surgery with incredible care and compassion,” Boucher said.
He continued swimming up until the day before surgery, holding onto the hope and routine that the sport has always given him.
“Dr. Liptay told me four weeks after that, I’d start to get back into the water,” he said. “And I did.”
After surgery, Boucher had four rounds of chemotherapy, with three weeks between each. Just a few days after each round, Boucher gradually began swimming again.
“Being a swimmer before all of this happened, the care team encouraged me to stay active,” he said. “Swimming was a godsend for me. By the time I got to the next round [of chemo], I felt OK. And I attribute that to swimming.”
In May 2026, Boucher’s latest scans following chemotherapy came back clean. Doctors will continue to monitor him, but Boucher will enter this year’s SAA Chicago Open Water Swim in remission.
A new perspective
In the weeks leading up to this year’s swim, Boucher has a profound new understanding of its impact — from the community to the hope, solace and strength swimming has offered him during a difficult time.
“Throughout this journey, swimming has been a source of strength and comfort, helping me push forward each day,” Boucher said. “Thanks to the hard work and financial generosity of this community, I received lifesaving treatment and unwavering support. The dedication of this community makes a lasting difference for many — including me.”
While he was motivated to participate in the open water swim in the past, this year feels different. Boucher has a deeper appreciation for the personalized cancer care Rush provides, along with the need to advance innovative research that will improve outcomes.
“My hope is that they’ll find a cure,” he said. “In the meantime, the swim helps fund research that benefits people like me, and that’s really a great thing to be part of.”
The 2026 Swim Across America Chicago Open Water Swim takes place Saturday, Aug. 8, at Ohio Street Beach. Register to swim or participate virtually via SAA My Way. Volunteer by emailing SAA Chicago Co-Event Directors Alyse Mauro Mason at alyse@swimacrossamerica.org and Katie Marchetti at katie@swimacrossamerica.org, or make a gift.
