After events at the Waitaki Aquatic Centre yesterday, one thing is for certain — Oamaru’s Special Olympics swim team is going to be in great shape for its big meeting at the end of the year.
As a fundraiser to send members to the regional games, to be staged in Dunedin in December, the team held a swim-a-thon during which its 15 swimmers swam as many lengths as possible over a nine-hour period.
By late yesterday afternoon, some swimmers had completed more than 200 lengths.
Overall, about 80 lengths per swimmer on average had been completed.
Joining the swim team was a team organised by Adair Craik, of the Oamaru Multisport Club, and members of the aquatic centre’s swim squad.
Oamaru Special Olympics swim team coach Diane Lee said in addition to being a great way to get in some extra training, the swim-a-thon also spread the word around the community that the team was serious about what it does.
She said swimmer Liam Bartley was a fine example of that.
He trains at the aquatic centre several days a week and has improved his times markedly over the past few months.
Mrs Lee said the day was "fabulous".
"The swimmers have all done really well and we’ve had some really good support from the community."
"At least" $3000 had been raised by late yesterday afternoon.
● The team will hold another fundraiser, a car wash, at the South Hill New World between 10am and 2pm on Sunday.
- Daniel Birchfield
