Colgate Men’s Swim Team to Raise Money for Operation Smile

Courtesy Colgate Athletics/Silver Chalice Ventures

HAMILTON – Colgate Men’s Swimming & Diving has announced that it will host a Swim-A-Thon this week in Lineberry Natatorium.

Members of the program will swim non-stop for a period of 48 hours, starting Thursday at 3 p.m. The group is planning to have at least one swimmer in the water at all times and hopes to swim at least 130 miles during the event.

The Raiders are holding the event to raise funds and awareness for Kids Action for Kids, a non-profit organization that works in conjunction with Operation Smile to provide surgeries for children born with cleft lips and cleft palates in Thailand.

Children born with this condition in rural parts of Southeast Asia cannot afford
this relatively cheap surgery and often struggle with malnutrition because of it. The affected children are also often subject to stigmas and are ostracized as a result of the superstitious cultures in the area.

Founded by Colgate senior swimmer Haakon Breeke, Kids Action for Kids has already funded more than 600 successful surgeries. The organization works closely with Thai telecom company Dtac, who matches every dollar raised by the organization, in effect doubling all donations.

People looking to support the cause can do so by pledging either a fixed amount or a per-mile donation. Forms are available by clicking on the link at the top of the page or by visiting www.KidsActionForKids.org.