Chicago River Swim

Chicago River Swim The Chicago River Swim (CRS) is a charitable event created by A Long Swim, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for ALS research.

Inspired by successful urban swims in New York, Amsterdam, and Paris, CRS aims to change perceptions of the Chicago River.

09/15/2026

Come along with us to test the water quality of the Chicago River! 🌊

Still skeptical about the water? Let us walk you through how we partner with UIC School of Public Health to test bacterial levels in the swim course before race day.

So, what exactly is The Big Jump? 💦This event is open to the public and is YOUR chance to plunge into the Chicago River....
09/15/2026

So, what exactly is The Big Jump? 💦

This event is open to the public and is YOUR chance to plunge into the Chicago River. You do NOT have to be a Chicago River Swim participant or endurance athlete to take part.

This event kicks off the Chicago River Swim weekend on Friday, Sept. 18 and will help raise funds for ALS Research and for youth swim education.

As long as you’re 18+ and comfortable swimming in deep, open water this event is for you.

Ready to take the leap? Register now: https://bit.ly/crsbigjump

09/14/2026

We are so thrilled to have Olympic swimmer Maritza Correia McClendon join us this weekend in our fight against ALS at the Chicago River Swim.

Thank you to ABC 7 Chicago for sharing her story. Watch the full segment through the link in our bio.

09/14/2026

The Chicago River Swim is going live! 🌊

This year’s Chicago River Swim will be streamed live on ABC7Chicago.com, ABC 7 Chicago and the Disney+ apps.

From swimmers taking on the river to spectators lining the riverwalk, we’re excited to bring the energy of race day to an even bigger audience.

Join hosts Greg Dutra ABC7 and Jasmine Minor on Sept. 20 from 6:30-10 a.m. and watch the Chicago River Swim unfold live.

See you in the river.

09/13/2026

The Chicago River Swim from the POV of Becca Mann, the reigning champion of the women’s 2-mile non-wetsuit race. 

ONE more week until the Chicago River Swim. See you in the river.

Today is a National Day of Service, a day everyone is encouraged to volunteer to strengthen their community. Here are th...
09/11/2026

Today is a National Day of Service, a day everyone is encouraged to volunteer to strengthen their community. Here are three organizations you can volunteer with to give back.👇

1️⃣ Friends of the Chicago River — Spend a day outside while helping to keep our communities and waterways clean! Friends of the Chicago River hosts clean up sessions throughout the year that you can participate in.

2️⃣ ALS United Greater Chicago — Whether it’s joining the ambassador program or volunteering at an event, it’s through the gracious support of volunteers that ALS United is able to continue their work and support individuals and their families dealing with ALS.

3️⃣ The Chicago River Swim on Sept. 20 — We’re still looking for a few more volunteers for this year’s River Swim! Join the crew and help us in our fight against ALS and support youth swim lessons programming.

09/11/2026

Only once a year😱: the city is letting swimmers🏊 jump into the Chicago River this September🏙️ Read more below👇.....

Thank you ABC 7 Chicago for featuring the Chicago River Swim, Maritza McClendon and Dr. Hande Ozdinler in the fight agai...
09/10/2026

Thank you ABC 7 Chicago for featuring the Chicago River Swim, Maritza McClendon and Dr. Hande Ozdinler in the fight against ALS.

Maritza McClendon, Olympic silver medalist and the first Black woman in U.S. history to qualify for an Olympic swim team, will be bringing her advocacy in support of our swim.

Dr. Hande Ozdinler and her team at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine will be the beneficiary of a portion of the funds raised by the Swim.

While the funds are allocated to their research on ALS, their work is actually a fight against many neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Ozdinler believes, “Once we crack open ALS, all others will be much easier to follow."

Read the full piece on McClendon here: https://abc7chicago.com/post/olympic-swimmer-silver-medalist-maritza-mcclendon-joins-chicago-river-swim-sept-20-fight-als/19792775/

And on Dr. Ozdinler here: https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-river-swim-sept-20-2026-raise-funds-als-research-northwestern/19798348/

For Brenten and Bennett Blakeman, the fight against ALS is deeply personal.Their grandfather, Dave McConnell, was diagno...
09/09/2026

For Brenten and Bennett Blakeman, the fight against ALS is deeply personal.

Their grandfather, Dave McConnell, was diagnosed with ALS in 1994 and passed away in 2006. That same year, their mom, Ellen McConnell Blakeman, was also diagnosed with ALS.

Turning their family’s experience with ALS into a mission to raise awareness and fund research, the McConnell and Blakeman families founded A Long Swim in 2011.

After Ellen’s passing in 2018, they established the Ellen McConnell Blakeman ALS Research Fellowship at the Ozdinler ALS Research Lab at Northwestern University, providing an additional researcher to help advance the search for a cure.

Today, they continue the work their mom started, carrying her legacy forward and helping build a future without ALS.

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