Dexter Community Aquatic Club Plans Swim-a-Thon Fundraiser to Benefit Tornado Relief Fund

To help local families rebuilding from the March 15 tornado, the Dexter Community Aquatic Club is doing what it does best — swimming.

Members, who range in age from 5 to 18, will take to the lanes at Wylie Community Pool on March 28 for a swim-a-thon.

"Parents, friends and members of the public have the option to donate a lump sum or they can donate per lap," coach Dave Gendernalik explained. "Each participating swimmer will see how many laps they can complete within three hours."

The event is open to the public and volunteers are needed to help count laps for the team as well as serve food and drinks to the swimmers.

"There's plenty of space for people to come and watch or help out if they are inclined to," Gendernalik said.

He said several club members live in both the Carriage Hills subdivision in Dexter Township and Huron Farms subdivision in the Village of Dexter, which received the bulk of the tornado damage.

"We usually have a end of the season banquet, but the kids wanted to do this fundraiser instead," he said. "We were trying to come up with any ideas on how we could help."

Other area athletic clubs have also stepped up their fundraising efforts for the community. This week the Hamburg Pirate Youth Football Association collected $4,300 worth of cans, bottles and cash donations and matched the amount to donate a total of $8,600. The club plans to present a check to Dexter officials in the near future.

Donations toward the Dexter Relief Fund can be made online at www.dexterrelieffund.com.