Chloe urges locals to make a splash at Australia’s biggest swim

Australia’s biggest swimming event, the swimathon and will take place at 50 YMCA pools across Australia – including Kurri Aquatic Centre – on Sunday, March 2.

Funds raised will help the YMCA support people with a disability learn vital swimming and water safety skills, and go towards purchasing equipment such as pool access hoists and floatation devices. 

The YMCA Swimathon was launched on December 3 as the world also celebrated United Nations’ International Day of People with Disability.

Eight-year-old Chloe, who has Down Syndrome, has been attending swimming lessons at YMCA-managed Kurri Aquatic Centre for five years and is living proof of how important it is to raise funds for the Y’s Learn-to-Swim program for people with a disability.

In 2010, Chloe was faced with a situation that could have taken her life – she jumped into the family’s pool without any supervision or her flotation device.

Luckily, Chloe was able to swim to safety as a result of having attended one-on-one swimming lessons at Kurri Aquatic Centre.

“I have no doubt that if it wasn’t for these lessons, Chloe would no longer be with us,” her mum Michelle said.

Centre manager and Chloe’s swimming teacher, Kate Grigor, is urging locals to get involved in the YMCA Swimathon to ensure no one with a disability in the local community misses out on the chance to learn to swim.

“We want to help more children like Chloe in the local community learn lifesaving water skills and so we’re encouraging everyone to register and start raising money for this great cause,” Kate said.

The event caters for all ages and swimming abilities, with a competitive category encouraging participants to nominate how far they will swim in an hour and how much they will raise to support this important cause.

“We want to make sure that no one living with a disability in our local community misses out on the chance to learn to swim,” Kate said. 

“So we’re challenging locals to pledge how far they will swim and how much they will raise to support this importance cause.

“Every dollar counts. Just $15 can provide one SwimAbility lesson for a child with a disability.”

Last year’s Swimathon saw 2500 people participate across 69 pools and raised more than $210,000 for local communities.

Money is also being raised to help new migrants and the financially disadvantaged learn how to swim.

Registrations are free and open now at www.ymcaswimathon.org.au or at Kurri Aquatic Centre.