Great Bend High School swimmers hope they aren’t all wet when it comes to a lofty goal they have set for themselves this weekend.
The boys swim team, coached by Steve Beaumont, plans to swim a marathon 100 miles and raise $5,000 in the process during the Swim to Wish event.
“We will be swimming a 100-mile relay to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation,” Beaumont said. “Our goal is to raise $5,000, which will be used to help a local child who has a life-threatening condition and a wish.
“We will begin at 2 p.m. at the Barton Community College pool and finish sometime on Sunday around noon,” he said. “During that time we will have a swimmer from the GBHS boys’ team in the water at all times swimming a mile relay-leg.
“We have 10 swimmers and another seven people who are working in support roles – our ‘Pit Crews’ so to speak,” Beaumont said. “The swimmers are divided up into two groups with five swimmers and pit crew that will take turns swimming for eight-hour shifts.”
Beaumont is confident the boys will make their swimming goal, but raising the money is still a concern.
“We desperately need people to donate any amount to our event,” he said.
Donations can be dropped off at the GBHS activities office, Great Bend Middle School office or by calling Beaumont, 620-603-6384, or assistant coach Keith Moeder, 620-603-6033. He or a swimmer can pick up donations anywhere in Great Bend.
GBHS is one of six schools participating in this event. Others include Salina South, Salina Central, Newton, Derby and Haysville Campus high schools are also participating.
Beaumont extends a thank you to BCC for use of the college pool, Club One Fitness for providing the swimmers with bottled water, Pizza Hut for donating pizza for the swimmers on Friday and the GBHS Booster Club for providing sub sandwiches for the swimmers on Saturday.
“Those who would like to follow our endeavor can check us out on Facebook at Great Bend High School Swimming where we will post updates on our quest to complete 100 miles,” he said.