Wyatt Deaton, 11, takes swimming pretty seriously. He's been doing it since he was two.

Now, he intends on using his skills to help fight cancer.

“I just like it because it's an after school hobby," Deaton told Spectrum News.

Swimming is a hobby he practices about three or four times a week. But his goal isn't to win a medal or a swim meet: He practices for someone much more important than all of that — he swims for his mother. 

“My mom has cancer, plus some of her friends had cancer as well," Deaton said.

On May 7, Wyatt will be one of the youngest swimmers taking part in Swim Across America.

His goal is to fight cancer. With every mile each participant swims in the bay, they raise money for continued cancer research. This isn't the first time Wyatt’s taken the dip for his mom. He’s raised thousands of dollars already in previous swims.

Mom couldn't be more proud. 

“When we were diagnosed with cancer and then we learned about Swim Across America, Michelle Deaton said, “I told him it's a swimming event and the opportunity to give back, he was all over it.” When I asked Wyatt if he was excited about swimming two miles out in the bay he said, “Yes I'm also terrified that a shark will come up and bite my leg off.”

Click here to donate to Wyatt's swim.