Walsh Honored With Creation of Sue Walsh Swim Across America Cancer Research Fund

For years, Sue Walsh has represented the University of North Carolina and her community as an athlete, fundraiser and mentor. To honor her many contributions, the UNC Health Foundation has created the Sue Walsh Swim Across America Cancer Research Fund, which supports new ideas in cancer research at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This recognition was presented at the annual Swim Across America Carolina Community Swim at UNC’s Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill on Sept. 26. Swim Across America has supported cancer research for more than 40 years, raising more than $150 million. Money raised at SAA events remains local, supporting cancer researchers and hospitals in the swimmers’ communities.

Walsh was instrumental in bringing Swim Across America to UNC. This year’s swim marked the fifth year that the event has been held in Chapel Hill, and the annual fundraiser has brought in more than $500,000 since its inception. The 2026 edition was the most successful UNC swim to date, raising more than $185,000 so far.

Swim Across America President and CEO Rob Butcher said naming the fund for Walsh is a fitting dedication that honors the scale of her impact as a fundraiser and advocate for the organization.

“Sue has inspired so many, not only through her athletic accomplishments but also through the way she has spent her life giving back to others,” Butcher said. “It’s a fitting tribute to Sue and the difference she has made in the lives of so many.”

The fund supports UNC Lineberger research into early discovery and rare diseases. UNC Lineberger cancer researcher Siddharth Sheth, DO, MPH, whose work is supported by Swim Across America, said that donor support is crucial for building the evidence to attract larger funding and move discoveries from the lab to the patient.

“One thing that’s so special about Swim Across America is that it’s a UNC effort to support our patients and our mission,” said Sheth. “It’s extremely meaningful to have that impact right here in Chapel Hill.”

Walsh’s daughters Sarah Stankavage Pitts and Shelby Baldwin accepted a framed certificate commemorating the newly established fund on behalf of their mother, sharing her gratitude and noting she wished she could be present to accept the recognition in person. They shared that she is deeply grateful for the honor and for the support the UNC community has shown throughout her own battles with cancer, which prevented her from participating in this year’s swim.

“Her legacy is so much more than her achievements,” Stankavage Pitts said. “Seeing all these people come together to recognize and support her shows what a legacy and impact she has had.”

The most decorated swimmer in UNC history during her storied collegiate career, Walsh worked at The Rams Club for three decades, raising money for scholarships and building relationships across the University and Carolina community in support of generations of Tar Heel student-athletes.

In her many roles, including most recently serving as Associate Executive Director of Scholarships and Legacy Gifts, Walsh helped raise more than $500 million for endowed student scholarships. The Rams Club honored Walsh’s contribution with the creation of the Montross-Walsh Scholarship, which celebrates the contributions of Walsh and the late Eric Montross and is awarded annually to student-athletes who embody their examples of service and excellence.

Former UNC swimming and diving head coach Rich DeSelm first met Walsh when he recruited her to Carolina in 1988. Beyond her extensive achievements as a student-athlete, DeSelm said Walsh brought a passion and dedication to her team that she carried into her career and support for UNC.

“There was no one tougher in a race than Sue Walsh, as evidence by her career and all her titles,” DeSelm said. “She has impacted so many people. She is one of the greatest student-athlete graduates at UNC ever, in my opinion.”

DeSelm said that this dedication to giving back to the community led her to support Relay for Life and then Swim Across America’s mission to raise money for cancer research. Both DeSelm and Walsh began fundraising with Swim Across America before receiving personal cancer diagnoses, and he said that has made their contributions more personal and meaningful.

“She felt that the mission of funding research for cancer would be a meaningful way to give back to her community, but she did not realize how meaningful that would become,” DeSelm said. “It’s just sad that she can’t be here, but we are all thrilled to honor her.”