Oakland, CA - Mills College will be the site of the 11th annual “Swim a Mile for Women with Cancer” fundraiser on October 7 and 8, 2006. Organized by the Oakland Women’s Cancer Resource Center, the event will take place from 10 am–4 pm at the campus’ Trefethen Aquatic Center, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94613.

The Center’s major fundraiser for the year, the “Swim A Mile” raises approximately $250,000 for programs serving poor and elderly women, African Americans, Latinas, and lesbians.

Approximately 500 women, men and children of all ages, sizes, backgrounds, and swimming abilities will swim from one to 72 laps, from one side of the pool to the other.

This year, at least 15,465 people will be diagnosed with cancer in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and San Francisco counties, according to Cancer Facts and
Figures.

During the past 20 years, the Center has served more than 60,000 women, as well as their families and friends. Since 1995, more than 3,000 swimmers have participated in “Swim a Mile,” raising $1.35 million to help local women with cancer and their families. Funds help them in a wide variety of ways, including:

• $250 pays for an advocate to accompany a non-English speaking Latina to doctor visits
• $500 funds emergency financial assistance for a woman with breast cancer – rent, utilities and groceries
• $1,000 supports healing arts and cultural programs – writing, yoga, t’ai chi, mixed media art, knitting, cooking

For more information about the “Swim a Mile,” to register or volunteer, visit http://www.wcrc.org/swim/index.htm.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently recognized as one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills currently ranks 16th for diversity among the country’s liberal arts colleges.

This year, the Washington Monthly College Rankings (September 2006) named Mills a leading liberal arts college based on community service, research spending, quality of preparation for graduate education, and social mobility. In addition, The Princeton Review’s annual guide, The Best 361 Colleges (2007) included Mills for the second year in a row among top U.S. institutions offering students an outstanding undergraduate education.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

PRESS CONTACT:
Deborah Dallinger
Communications Consultant
925.788.9131