Swimming for two straight hours or completing 200 laps is challenging for the best of us. But members of the Bonnyville Requins swim club were up for the challenge at this year's swim-a-thon.
The club held its second annual swim-a-thon this past Wednesday, raising over $2,500 for the club.
The Bonnyville Swimming Pool hosted the event and was split into two sections for the fundraiser.
On one side, 11 competitive swimmers attempted to swim 200 laps in under two hours, or for two hours straight, whichever came first.
The other half of the pool was for 11 non-competitive club members. They held fun races during the first half of the event. Then they joined in the marathon for as long as they could swim.
This year's swim-a-thon was held to raise money for a digital time-keeping clock at the pool. The club planned to raise half the funds needed, while the pool has agreed to donate the other half.
“This year's swim-a-thon went very well,” said Requins coach Shannon Parker.
Nine swimmers swam the 200 laps in under two hours, she said.
“Last year we had only four swimmers complete the feat, so I was very interested to see what happened this year.”
Parker said this year the team has focused primarily on swimming techniques, and has only recently begun working on endurance.
But she said she is proud of all her competitive and non-competitive members for jumping in the pool and helping to raise funds for the club.
“Everyone had a really good time,” said Parker.
