3rd Annual Daniel Buchanan Swim for Life Swim-a-Thon - Saturday November 15th!
On November 15th, the Phoenixville YMCA swim community will participate in the Daniel Buchanan Swim For Life Swim-a-Thon. This event will take place between 10AM and 3:30PM for swim team members and between 4-6PM for community members. We are asking participants, and their families, to raise money to support the Daniel Buchanan Swim for Life Fund, which provides scholarship opportunities for swim team and swim lessons at all Greater Philadelphia YMCA locations.
Included below is the Daniel Buchanan Swim for Life Fund story, as well as fund raising guidelines.
The Story of the Daniel Buchanan Swim for Life Fund
The Buchanan Family established the Daniel Buchanan Swim for Life Fund in loving memory of their son, Daniel. The YMCA was a second home for Daniel and swimming was a major part of Dan's life starting at the age of 4 with swim lessons. While in swim lessons the Phoenixville YMCA coach at the time (Joe Cushing) saw Dan swimming butterfly, and quickly asked 'When are you going to join the swim team!'. This simple interaction would change the course of Dan's life. From there he would go on to swim for the YMCA, Owen J. Roberts High School, and Lycoming College (Where he was elected captain in his Junior year). The story is a beautiful example of how the little things in life can lead to much bigger and better things.
After Daniel's unfortunate passing the fund was set up to give back to the YMCA, a place that meant so much to him in his youth. The Daniel Buchanan Swim for Life Fund is an endowment fund that was specifically created to support the Aquatics Community of the Phoenixville YMCA. The explicit goal of the fund is to provide as many children as possible, in the Phoenixville Area, the opportunity to learn how to swim through swim lessons, and to continue their love of swimming through swim team participation.
The fund has quietly been supporting swimmers for years, but as our Aquatic footprint expands across the region it has become apparent that our support apparatus needs to grow as well. It is the goal of the Phoenixville YMCA and the Swim for Life Fund to provide swim instruction at every level to anyone who desires it, regardless of financial circumstances. We believe that swimming is not only a life skill but an outlet for children to be a part of a meaningful community. It is with great hope and optimism that we ask you to share this goal with us, and that you contribute to the fund today!'
Swim-A-Thon Format and Fundraising
Donations will be made online through Daniel Buchanan Swim For Life - Campaign (philaymca.org). Please share with friends and family to help reach your goal.
Did you know:
$100 - Pays for half a session of swim lessons
$200 – Pays for a full session of swim lessons
$500 - Pays for 4 months on the swim team
$1500 - Pays for 1 year on the swim team
ALL DONATIONS ARE VALUABLE AND APPRECIATED!
There are two ways for participants, friends and family to donate: flat amount or per lap.
For per lap donations, we are including a cap number for each group so you can make an educated guess on what to donate. Please refer to the times and lap estimates below:
Schedule and Lap Estimates Per Group
10:00AM-12:30PM Senior and Senior Prep 320 Laps
12:30-2:30PM Junior 1 and Junior 2 240 Laps
2:30-3:30PM Novice 1,2, & 3 100 Laps
4:00-6:00PM Community 200 Laps
For participants who solicit per lap donations, the donation page will remain open after the event to donate. Each swimmer will be given a piece of paper at the end of their swim with at total number of laps. For the sake of convenience, we are ok if you use the estimated lap totals to drive your donations.
Thank you for helping to continue the legacy of Daniel and providing the community with the opportunity to learn and love to swim!
