USH X Swim Alcatraz 2026 fundraiser • October 17, 2026
Carter Von Hassel
Meet Carter Von Hassel, who will swim from alcatraz to shore on October 17, 2026 for our USH x Swim Alcatraz fundraiser. All proceeds from this event go directly towards research for all types of Usher syndrome.
Carter is a 20-year-old college student, film lover, boxing enthusiast, Rangers fan—and someone living with Usher syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive hearing and vision loss.
This October, Carter will take on an extraordinary challenge: swimming from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park alongside a group of swimmers who also have Usher syndrome. He is doing the swim to challenge himself, connect with others who understand his experience, and raise awareness and critical funds for the Usher Syndrome Society.
Swimming across the cold, unpredictable waters of San Francisco Bay is no small undertaking. For Carter, it represents something even bigger: facing the unknown with courage and refusing to let Usher syndrome define what is possible.
Your support will help fund research, build community, and bring hope to individuals and families affected by Usher syndrome. Please consider supporting Carter as he takes on this incredible challenge.
Every donation directly advances critical research initiatives aimed at finding treatments and a cure.