The Haines Dolphins swim team’s Swim-a-Thon, the largest fundraiser of the year, is Saturday, March 31.
Swimmers collect pledges for each length of the pool they swim during a two-hour period. Donors also can make a flat donation. Last year, the Dolphins raised about $20,000, a record-setting haul, for an average of $462 per child.
The team had a 100 percent participation rate. The 43 swimmers combined to swim nearly 90 miles, and 13 athletes completed the full 200 lengths. About 25 Dolphins are expected at the Swim-a-Thon this month.
Haines has consistently ranked among the top 10 USA Swimming teams in money raised per capita at the Swim-a-Thon. The money helps cover equipment, rent, travel and other expenses and previously has accounted for a third of the program’s annual budget.
Four swimmers topped a $1,000 fundraising total in 2011: Jasper Posey, $1,682; Skye Posey, $1,648; Kamakana Kanahele, $1,400; and Dylan Chapell, $1,093.
Much of the fundraising goes through the website http://www.swim-a-thon.com, set up by resident James Alborough.
“Each swimmer has their own page, and they can go in there and see who’s donated, and it totals it up for them and makes it real easy,” Alborough said. “It even gives them tips on how to post their link to Facebook. We’ve found Facebook is very useful in getting donations from folks you may not have thought of, but who are friends.”
The website includes a listing of swimmers and their fundraising goals, along with pictures and video.
Alborough’s 10-year-old daughter, Skye Posey, aims to raise $2,000, which would top the all-time local mark of $1,765 set by Keegan Sundberg in 2008.
“It’s a real fun event,” Alborough said. “On the actual day, you get to swim with all your team members, and it’s a challenge and kind of a fun atmosphere.”
Swimmers also earn prizes based on their fundraising success.
“There are lots of prizes; I couldn’t even begin to list them all,” said coach Tyler Wyatt. “There are awesome prizes, let’s put it that way. I wish I was the one who was swimming.”
The Dolphins plan to wrap up their season in April, at meets in Anchorage and Whitehorse, Wyatt said. Rebekah Green and Haley Sweet-Cushing have qualified for the state’s Junior Olympics.