SWIM-A-THON

BERGEN BARRACUDA SWIM CLUB'S 2007-2008 SWIM-A-THON

New This Year: 1. Swimmer's will select which charity that up to $1000 will be donated to. At the Swim-a-Thon, swimmers will vote for one of four requested charities. (#1) Emmanuel Foundation in Midland Park , NJ . They are set up to support (financially, emotionally, etc.) families that have children dealing with cancer. (#2) Fun Day at Tomorrows Children's Fund out of Hackensack University Medical Center Started by a niece of one of the parents to provide money for a day out, usually an amusement park, for the children currently undergoing treatment for cancer at Hackensack and their families. (3#) Center for Food Actionin Mahwah NJ which provides a food pantry for local families, and (#4) “Scholarships†for local under-privileged children to attend the Bergen Barracuda’s Learn-to-Swim program. 2. Each swimmer that does the Swim-A-Thon will be eligible for a $25 gift certficate. There will be one certificate for each group. Drawings will be done after each session of the Swim-A-Thon!

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

7:30-9:30 a.m. for Groups 1 & 2 & 3 - 10:00-12:00 noon for Group 4, & 5

(pledge sheet.doc) - (swim-a-thon sheet.pdf)

NEW INFORMATION: Just an update on the Bergen Barracudas Swim-A-Thon. The Bergen Barracudas has always been the best example of a parent run swim club with a positive financial situation. The Bergen Barracudas have had weekend clinics (former national coaches (Bob Steele) and swimmer (Sue Anderson)), we have had motivational speakers, we have had college coaches (Frank Keife -Yale and Larry Van Wagner - Marist) talk to our swimmers about college swimming and recruiting. The Bergen Barracudas have started to re-support these programs as seen by having the Marist Coach talk to our parents. This Swim-A-Thon will help us get back to the club that we can be again.

PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SUPPORT OUR SWIM-A-THON. - There is a goal that each swimmer get $200 of pledges for the Swim-A-Thon!

WHAT IS A SWIM-A-THON? A swim-a-thon is a trademark name for a fund raiser. This event is sponsored by USA Swimming! A swimmer has two hours to swim upto 200 lengths. Swimmers get sponsors to pledge money for each length swum. ( Go to the USA Swimming Swim-A-Thon Webpage) ( See the Top-20 Swim-a-Thons this year)

WHY DO A SWIM-A-THON? The Bergen Barracudas have been a very solid club since its conception. The last few years have been tough for the Bergen Barracudas in number of swimmers but we are coming back! The Bergen Barracudas need fund raisers to help offset each swimmer's fee's. Sometimes swim meets don't produce as much income as needed. Therefore we are having this Swim-a-Thon this January.

WHO DOES THIS SWIM-A-THON? This is a team fund raiser! All swimmers are required to participate! If there are any swimmers that can not attend on Saturday, January 26th, we'll schedule another time or do it at a swim practice. Swimmers will receive information sheets, pledge forms, participation certificates, and pins for completing 200 lengths.

THE BERGEN BARRACUDA SWIM-A-THON! The Bergen Barracuda Swim-a-Thon will need parents to help count the number of lengths during the swims. We are also looking for any type of prizes to be donated for a drawing after the swim-a-thon. If you have anything that you could donate such as gift certificates or age appropriate gifts.