Some 80 members of the Bishop O’Connell High School swimming and diving team, and a few alumni, recently raised nearly $17,000 during a swim-a-thon for Area 26 Special Olympics.
The team significantly surpassed its fund-raising goal of $10,000 by collecting a total of $16,931.
Embodying the team’s motto “We Swim and We Serve,” the January event was led by O’Connell senior captains Carlin Smittle, Claire Thompson and Timmy Adye. It was the team’s second fund-raiser, but the cause was different for last year’s initial event.
Thirteen Special Olympians from different ages who also participated.
“It all came together way better than we expected,” said Alysia Desbiens, who helped organize the event. “When something like this is tried, you don’t know if will get any donations. So that was very exciting.”
Each participating member of the team swam 5,000 yards, or 200 lengths of the pool at The St. James facility in Springfield, and ensured that Special Olympic swimmers can attend the Area 26 state meet.
In addition to the money raised by the swimmers, there was a $300 donation from O’Connell’s Class of 1995.
During the swim-a-thon, the O’Connell swimmers were split into seven teams, each with a different name. There also was one alumni team.
The three captains led teams, in addition to other O’Connell swimmers Delina Melles, Paul Mullen, Anna LeNard, Graham Rowan and Reagan Cervenak.
Melles’ AquaKnight Avengers team raised the most money, $3,015, with Thompson’s Speed Demons the next with $2,825. The Hudro Hunters raised $2,525, the Chlorine Crusaders $2,475, the Aqua Assassins $1,955, the Poseidon’s Fury $1,875, the Rubber Ducky Racers $1,325 and the AquaKnight Alumni $826.
In addition to the 5,000-yard swims, there also were fun relays and a synchronized-swimming contest.
“It was hilarious, and very inclusive to all involved,” Desbiens said.
