The Beaver Area Swim and Dive team is hosting their third annual swim-a-thon!

The question you’re probably asking: what is a swim-a-thon? Well, the general event is an hour-long continuous relay by all Bobcat swimmers with some help from the coaches.

Swimmers take turns swimming the length of the pool and back continuously until the end of the hour. Over the hour, the divers also join and dive off the brand new diving boards continuously. However, this event isn’t just for fun (and exhaustion).

The goal of the swim-a-thon is to raise money for both the swim and dive team and the Beaver County Women’s Shelter.

The funds raised will be split 50/50 and a check will be presented to the Women’s Shelter later in the season. The team has paired with the Women’s Shelter for the previous two years to help out with any needs they have at this difficult time of the year. During previous years, the team has raised over $2000 for the shelter.

The team also has set fundraising levels which result in different prizes. Some basics include a special Swim-a-Thon t-shirt and team swim cap, but the big team goals, like raising $1500, get head coach Marc Williams to swim the relay as well (even though he likely will anyway).

This year, the team is also welcoming any parents who want to watch sit in the stands. The spectators are also invited to bring donations they would like to give the shelter, including cash, cleaning items, or hygiene items for the women’s shelter wish list.

This relay is a special event for the whole team as athletes know the importance of what they’re fundraising for. Combining the opportunity to bring much needed funds into the team and also help donate to a good cause has brought the team together every December since 2021, and the swimmers are looking forward to creating even more memories this year.

This year’s Swim-a-Thon will be sophomore swimmer Cora Rodgers’s second time swimming in the relay: “I love the Swim-a-Thon! It’s so much fun and an easy way to give back to a good cause, especially around the holiday season.”

The Swim-a-Thon also doubles as a good way for the team to practice relays and get some relaxed swimming time in before the hectic meet season starts.

Senior captain Klayton Kaunert said, “The Swim-a-Thon is always a great time for the team to bond. It gives us a chance to relax and have some fun together before meets start.”

The official Swim-a-Thon event is December 15 at 6 p.m., but the fundraising happens all the way up until the start. If you wish to donate to the team and the women’s shelter, talk to a swim team member and ask how you can contribute!