On September 7th, Jonathan Leuchs embarks on a 40-mile swim around the island of Nantucket in support of Family Reach.

Jonathan’s commitment to the Family Reach mission is personal. In 2005, he lost his mother to brain cancer after a difficult two year battle. His grandfather also passed away after fighting lung cancer while Jonathan was in high school. Jonathan has spent many years fundraising for cancer research, but this year (on his 40th birthday) he’s chosen Family Reach. He knows that financial assistance is a different and necessary approach to the fight against cancer. By supporting Family Reach, Jonathan knows he will make a tangible difference for families who need help today.

As a Reach Athlete, Jonathan swims in honor of Gregory, whose story we shared on our blog last week. Gregory is an 18-year-old from Boston fighting rhabdomyosarcoma.

“I’ve completed numerous endurance swims and other distance races, but swimming around Nantucket will easily be my greatest endurance challenge! I am honored to swim for Gregory as he takes on the enormous challenge of fighting cancer. Anything I can do to raise money, awareness, and energy to assist him, his family, and Family Reach is well worth the challenge of swimming 40 miles.” – Jonathan

Help Jonathan celebrate his 40th birthday and honor Gregory by donating to his fundraiser here: http://bit.ly/JLeuchsSwim.

You can also support us by showing up! Team Family Reach is looking for supporters in Nantucket between September 7th to 10th. If you want to kayak, stand-up paddle board, or swim alongside Jonathan to keep him company during this incredible test of endurance, let us know. Reach out to [email protected] to ask how you can get involved! We’d love to have you.