Nov. 6, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University swimming and diving team will participate in the 2008 Ted Mullin Hour of Power Swim Relay for Cancer Research at 5 p.m. at McCarthy Pool in Yates Fieldhouse. Fans are encouraged to come out to the pool to support the Hoyas swimmers, as they swim for the cause.

More than 5,600 swimmers, representing close to 100 different college, high school & club swim teams from across the country and the world, will be participating in the 2008 Ted Mullin "Hour of Power" swim relay for cancer research, toward the efforts to find a cure for sarcoma.

Today's "Hour of Power" relay is in honor of Carleton College swimmer Ted Mullin, who died in the fall of 2006 from sarcoma. His teammates decided it would be appropriate to run a "Leave it in the Pool" practice consisting of continuous relays. It is an all-out swim, where swimmers can use any stroke. The objective is to keep all relays in each pool in the same length.

Participants in the "Hour of Power" gather pledges and donations to support the Ted Mullin Fund for Sarcoma Research at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. The funds raised go to the University of Chicago pediatric sarcoma research program. The program allows for collaborative efforts between clinicians and physician-scientists in the identification of the causes of sarcoma. The teams are encouraged to participate to raise team spirit and cancer awareness.

The "Hour of Power" Relay was first held on Nov. 7, 2006, and it included 15 teams. The teams raised $11,000 for the Ted Mullin Fund for Sarcoma Research at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Last year was even more successful, with 53 teams deciding to participate. The 53 teams, 46 of which where colleges and universities, raised over $43,000 for the Fund in 2007.