Provided/Alicia Matarazzo and Olivia Balsky are ready to go for their hour of lap swimming at the Mainland Recreational Association Swim Club in Linwood. Facilitated by the Shore Medical Center Auxiliary, members of the MRA's swim team swam laps to raise funds for the annual Carole Schiavo Kid's Swim that benefit cancer care at Shore Medical Center.
SOMERS POINT - More than 100 swimmers raised more than $10,000 during the 39th annual Carole Schiavo Kids Swim for Health held at Mainland Recreation Association pool in Linwood July 13.
Members of the Auxiliary of Shore Medical Center took their places on the pool deck to count the number of laps simmers completed. This year, 101 swimmers, ages 5-18 completed 7,125 laps and raised the majority of the $10,565, along with support from local sponsors.
Excited about their upcoming lap swim to raise money for the Carol Schiavo Kids Swim, the eight- and nine-year-old-girls are ready for the challenge, Tuesday, July 13.
The first event held in 1982 was called the Kids for Kids Swim-A-Thon and funded special pediatric projects at Shore Medical Center. The first-year swimmers raised $8,500, and to date, the group has raised over $300,000, with proceeds now going toward cancer care at Shore.
Swimmers Zoe and Callie Law register for the Carole Schiavo Kids Swim at the Mainland Recreational Association pool, Tuesday, July 13.
The event was renamed in memory of longtime auxiliary member Carole Schiavo. In 1989, the American Hospital Association selected the event as one of the top 10 fundraising ideas in the U.S. by the American Hospital Association.
The top fundraisers for the 2021 Carole Schiavo Kids Swim for Health are Billy Jenkins and Mackenzie Jenkins. They each raised $450.
Swim team members Billy Jenkins and Mackenzie Jenkins raised the most through pledges, each bringing in $450. The swimmer completing the most laps was Leah Nirenberg, who swam 130 laps.
The auxiliary thanked Coach Mike Schiavo for always supporting the Kids Swim for Health and event sponsors, which included Shore Medical Center staff, Glenn Insurance, Crab Trap, Ace Hardware-Smith Family, Comfort Now, LLC and Angelo DiBartolo, Marlin Café.
Many of the swim team members of the MRA Swim Club celebrate the successful Carole Schiavo Kids Swim for Health at the annual picnic July 22.
Members of the Shore Medical Center Auxiliary join in the celebration at the Carole Schiavo Kids Swim for Health at the annual picnic July 22.
