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On Sunday, October 4, 2026, nearly 50 swimmers took on the challenging waters of San Francisco Bay for the 15th Annual Alcatraz Swim for Sight, raising more than $162,000 to date to support vision research at UCSF Ophthalmology.
Led by 17-year-old event chair Ari Hirson, this year’s event brought together swimmers, teams, donors, volunteers, families, and friends, all united by a shared commitment to advancing research toward new treatments and cures for vision loss.
Ahead of the swim, Ari joined KTVU FOX 2 to talk about the Alcatraz Swim for Sight, the personal inspiration behind his involvement, and the event’s mission to raise funds for research to prevent and cure blindness.
Watch Ari Hirson’s interview on KTVU FOX 2
There is still time to support the 2026 Swim for Sight. Make a gift to the event, an individual swimmer, or one of the teams that took the plunge on October 4. Every contribution benefits the All May See Foundation in support of UCSF Ophthalmology faculty research.
MAKE A GIFT:
Support the 2026 Alcatraz Swim for Sight
Special thanks to Boichik Bagels for their donation to this year’s event!
For more than a decade, the Hirson family has led the Alcatraz Swim for Sight, challenging participants to swim across San Francisco Bay from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park while raising critical funds for vision research.
Since the event began, swimmers, donors, volunteers, and supporters have raised more than $1.7 million, helping fuel innovative research aimed at preventing vision loss and developing new treatments and cures.
After Ron and Lorie Hirson completed the tenth swim in 2022, they passed the torch to their sons, Noah and Ari. The next generation has continued to build on the event’s extraordinary legacy, bringing together dozens of swimmers and supporters each year.
Inspired by his mother’s experience living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Ari has embraced the leadership of the Swim for Sight with a personal commitment to advancing research and creating greater hope for people facing vision loss.
Thank you to every swimmer, team, donor, volunteer, and supporter who helped make the 2026 Alcatraz Swim for Sight a success.
The swim may be over, but the opportunity to make an impact continues.
View event photos here: