The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Swimathon benefits state Special Olympics
LAKEVILLE — Students and faculty at the Hotchkiss School will celebrate a milestone and the achievements of Special Olympics athletes when they host the 25th Annual Swimathon event to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut and the Northwest Connecticut Special Olympics Swim Team on Nov. 3.
The event will be held from 9 a.m.5 p.m. at the Hotchkiss School’s Hixon Pool, 22 Lime Rock Road, Lakeville. All are invited to participate in the swimathon, cheer on the swimmers or make a donation to support the event.
Register to swim or donate online at http://bit.ly/2OFyc5a . To find out more, call 2032301201 or email specialolympicsct@soct.org. The school’s goal is to raise $15,000 this year. The event has raised more than $12,000 in each of the last three years.
Members of the Northwest Connecticut Special Olympics Swim Team will be on hand to swim and help celebrate the 25th year of this event from 10 a.m. to noon. Swimmers will raise funds to participate in the event, online donations are also being accepted and all money raised will be dedicated to supporting the more than 12,000 athletes and Unified Sports® teammates who participate in Special Olympics Connecticut’s yearround sports, health and fitness programs.
Keith Moon, head coach of the Hotchkiss School’s boys varsity swimming and diving team for 26 years and a longtime member of the Special Olympics Connecticut Board of Directors, is a lead organizer and top fundraiser for the event.
"Hotchkiss is enormously proud to host this Swimathon again for the 25th time. The Northwest Connecticut Special Olympics Swim Team is like family for us here and we are excited to have them in the pool again. This has been a major community event for the school and town now for a quarter of a century, with over 200 swimmers per year, and we would love to break all our records this anniversary year. There are special gifts for all participants and we promise a festive and celebratory mood! Please join us," said Moon.
“The sense of community this event inspires and its longevity are amazing! We are grateful for the commitment and kindness demonstrated by Hotchkiss students and faculty members like Board Member Keith Moon and congratulate them on 25 extraordinary years,” said Special Olympics Connecticut President Beau Doherty.
Special Olympics Connecticut provides yearround sports training and competitions for over 12,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 172 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)
Partner sponsors are Adams Hometown Markets/ IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Dream Ride, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Golisano Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut, TD Bank, United Technologies and WWE.
Yearround suppliers are Adams Hometown Markets/ IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Campus Customs, The CocaCola Company, Connecticut Portable Storage/ PODS, Marcus Communications, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.