Swimmers go to Great Lengths for Diabetes Research

On May 14, Edmonton’s Olympian Swim Club hit the water to support diabetes research. Over 140 swimmers, ages 10–17, each swam 200 lengths of the pool (5 km) in under two hours.

The marathon swimmers raised a total of over $19,000, or more than $9,000 per hour. Half of the total raised will be invested in fitness and strength training equipment for the club’s dry-land program, with the remaining funds going to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation.

After the event, the ADF hosted a barbecue for the swimmers and their families. Lori McConnell, ADF Fund Development & Community Relations manager, credited Olympian organizers Kevin Raper, Susan Kammingafor the event’s success. “It’s a perfect example of our ‘Pick up our Cause’ community initiative,” she said. “The kids had a great time today, challenging themselves physically while supporting both their own club and the ADF.

Fundraising can be fun!” “Pick up our Cause” encourages anyone and everyone to set up small fundraisers to benefit the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. For information on hosting your own event, contact Lori McConnell lori.mcconnell@afdr.ab.ca or at 780-492- 6537 (outside Edmonton, call toll-free at 1-800-563-2450).

The Olympian Swim Club (OSC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer run, year round swim club. OSC offers programs that range from teaching young children to swim, to training elite athletes who compete at the Olympic level for team Canada.

  

Photos courtesy of Craig Kamminga