Swimming News Courtesy of Swim Across America.
Swimmers and volunteers from around the Raleigh area will descend upon the Willis R. Casey Natatorium at NC State University on Sunday, September 28th to make waves to fight cancer. The Triangle Water Festival will feature Olympic Gold Medalist David Fox, Olympic Silver Medalist Elaine Breeden, Puerto Rican Olympian Dan Velez, and Open Water World Champion Ashley Twichell. The event, which will be an indoor open water format utilizing a 50 meter long course pool and open water buoys, consists of a 1-mile race, 2-mile race, 1-mile relay, and Olympic swim clinic.
One of the newest registrations is a 9 year old girl, a cancer/leukemia survivor named Lindsay Templeton. She swims for YOTA. She has an incredible story. Since the 1 mile swim may be a bit much for a 9 year old girl, our Olympian guests have agreed to share a mile race with her. It is going to be an inspiring and memorable experience for her and the rest of our participants.
SAA warmup clinic: Dan Velez, Chloe Sutton, Elaine Breeden
Raleigh’s Swim Across America is in one of the most successful swimming regions in the country with some of America’s top teams in the area, including Braden Holloway’s NC State Wolfpack Swimming and Diving Team and club teams Marlins of Raleigh and YMCA of the Triangle Area (YOTA), amongst others. Coach Chad Onken of YOTA, the 2014 YMCA Summer Nationals Girls Champions, said of YOTA’s participation in the event, “We’ve all been touched by cancer in some way – whether it’s family or friends – and this important event is our opportunity and our privilege to battle this horrible illness through fast swimming and fellowship amongst area teams.” The NC State Varsity Swimming Alums and NC State Club Swimming also plan to attend, volunteer, and participate in the fundraiser, which largely donates to Dr. John Cavanagh’s cancer treatment research lab at NC State University.
Swim Across America truly is an incredible organization within the swimming community. Dan Velez, one of the Olympians who has aided in the planning of Swim Across America – Raleigh, has found a special passion within the event. Dan’s mother, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer over two years ago, continues a difficult fight through treatment and recovery to this day, having just completed yet another of countless surgeries. This is the way for Dan and the rest of the triangle area’s swimming community to make waves to fight back. All ages and levels of swimming are encouraged to participate and fund raise for this important cause.
For registration and/or donations, please visit http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR?fr_id=2800&pg=entry
Please contact Rebecca Hughes at [email protected] with any questions about this wonderful event.
