Save the Date – Alcatraz Swim for Sight – Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

JOIN US! On Sunday, October 4th, 2026, Ari Hirson will host his 4th Alcatraz Swim for Sight administered by the Edward Charles Foundation, with proceeds benefiting the All May See Foundation to support UCSF Ophthalmology faculty research. This year, the event hopes to attract 50 swimmers and raise $150,000. These dollars will continue to move research forward to eliminate blindness worldwide and create a world for all to see. Join us by swimming, donating or volunteering.

• Make your personal donation today: Donate Here

• Share the event with your network.

Past Swim for Sight Events
For over a decade, the Hirson family has led the Alcatraz Swim for Sight, a fundraiser challenging participants to swim across the San Francisco Bay from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park, raising vital funds for vision research.

Their efforts have generated over $1,000,000 to advance the field. After completing the tenth swim in 2022, Ron and Lorie Hirson passed the torch to their teenaged sons, Noah and Ari, two years ago to organize the 11th swim in 2023 and that event drew 48 swimmers and raised over $154,000 for the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology. In 2024, Noah and Ari had another successful swim, registering 47 swimmers and raising nearly $200,000. In 2025, Ari hosted a successful event and registered 50 swimmers and raised nearly $200,000. These funds will directly support UCSF’s groundbreaking efforts to develop cures for blindness.

Inspired by his mother’s experience living with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a condition causing vision loss, Ari Hirson has embraced this leadership role again to organize the 2026 Swim for Sight event with a passion and commitment to continue supporting innovative vision research.

The Alcatraz Swim for Sight remains a beacon of hope for the visually impaired worldwide. With Noah and Ari’s leadership, this vital cause continues to thrive, inspiring the next generation in the fight against blindness. – https://www.alcatrazswimforsight.org/

Register to participate or make a gift today!
Registration is now full! To make a donation (to support a swimmer), please visit – https://give.alcatrazswimforsight.org/event/alcatraz-swim-for-sight-2026/e757305

If you have any family and friends that may be interested in this event – please share this link with them!

Questions about the event

Contact Ari Hirson, Event Chair via email at: arihirson@gmail.com