2009 LBSL Blue Division Championships---Sponsored by the Lower Bucks Swim League---Hosted by the Oxford Valley swim Team---

After donating bone marrow for her father, Jessica Saloky created a swimming fundraiser to help other victims of lymphoma.

"It is cancer" - three terrifying words that change a person's life in an instant.

Those words were heard eight years ago by New Hanover Township resident Fran Weber, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"Initially I was healthy, and the next day, I am shocked to be told I have cancer," said Weber, 44.

He was treated with chemotherapy and radiation until 2008, when doctors told him those treatments were no longer effective. So, Weber enrolled in an experimental bone marrow transplant program at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Hospital.

"The hospital tested me and his two half brothers," said Weber's daughter, Jessica Saloky, 20, of Lower Southampton. "None of us were full marrow matches - they chose who was a better match, which was me. And right away, I said yes."

The bone marrow transplant replaced Weber's diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow from his daughter. First, Weber's bone marrow was destroyed by radiation and chemotherapy; then the healthy marrow was transplanted. The transplant could cure the cancer or delay recurrence.

On Dec. 5, bone marrow was removed from Saloky's hips and transfused into Weber's blood. Nearly nine months later, Weber said his health has improved immensely.

"I feel good, though I still have to take steroids and other drugs," said Weber. "I am able to do most of my typical stuff, like working full time and golfing."

Saloky said she feels pretty good about her father's improvement, but she wanted to do something to aid the fight against Hogkins. She created a fundraiser with the Oxford Valley Swim Team, which she coaches.

"This summer, I wanted to get my swimmers at the Oxford Valley pool involved in an event that would allow them to give back and come together as a team," Saloky said.

Earlier this month, the swim team had a two-event fundraiser - Laps for Lymphoma - at the pool in Falls. The first event involved 50 swimmers, who swam a designated number of laps based on age, skill and experience. Sponsoring family members or friends donated money based on the laps the swimmers completed.

The second event of the afternoon was a relay race, with Saloky's 60 swimmers running against 30 Brookside Swim Team members from Lower Makefield. About 12 businesses sponsored the event, making donations based on relay race lengths of 100 ($25), 200 ($50) or 400 ($100) yards.

Laps for Lymphoma raised $3,735.50 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Montgomery County.

"I am extremely proud of my swimmers," said Saloky. "They did an amazing job, and it's amazing how willing people were to come together and help. I hope to do it again + maybe for another cancer society."

Saloky's dad hopes so, too.

"I am very proud of Jessica. It's special to me she is involved in something related to what I have," said Weber. "She's a strong, young lady."