Youngsters to make 90-mile swim for charities

Posted on January 8, 2013 By Editor Junior Residents

Lauren Conners (left), Haynes Grant, Hannah Goldfield, Payton Lear

Aidan Galpin, a 10-year-old St. Mark’s Episcopal student, is part of a group of kids being coached by Kerry Wick Swimming at Good Shepherd. Galpin and 20 others are swimming the Key West to Cuba book this winter and Aidan has decided to use his 90-mile swim to help others. He has collected over $1,500 in pledges for Angels for Allison, Refugee Swim Lessons and Soles for Souls.

Lauren Conners, an 11-year-old Riverside Presbyterian Day School student is also doing the Key West to Cuba swim. Conners held a “Giving Back” party last summer to collect swim suits, goggles, and towels to contribute to refugee children who learn to swim in a program which is partnered through Lutheran Social Services, Kerry Wick Swim School and Episcopal Amberjax Swimmers. Lauren and her sisters Anna and Maria also collected 175 pairs of new socks for Lutheran Social Services.

Other young swimmers brought food donations for people and pets at a Party for the People, Party for the Pets event sponsored by Kerry Wick Swim School and the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Boxes were overflowing with items for the Changing Hearts Food Mission on San Juan Avenue and for Lucky Cat and First Coast No More Homeless Pets. And Stockton Elementary 5^th grader Emily Merton is raising money through cupcake sales to support a child in Africa.

Aidan Galpin

Kerry Wick Swim School was established in 1994. The purpose of the program is to offer summer league swimmers an opportunity to learn advanced stroke technique, as well as to teach kids who have never been on a swim team how to swim efficiently and correctly. To inquire, contact [email protected].