WITH each stroke and with each kick, Sophie Hall could feel herself get closer to her goal.
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As her arms heavied with each lap, so too her determination.
But this wasn’t a race. Nor was this a competition.
This was a desire to achieve a goal for a cause close to the heart.
75 laps into the marathon 100 lap, five-kilometre swim, Sophie stopped to take a breathe.
It was 1pm and she, like the 36 other people who had participated, had been swimming since 10am.
But now, besides a few others casually doing their laps, it was just Sophie.
“I’m buggered,” she said.
“I just did butterfly and that killed me.” The 23-year-old was taking part in the second annual YMCA Swimathon, held at the Goulburn Aquatic Centre yesterday to raise money for the national ‘swimability program.’
The program aims to support families who can’t afford swimming lessons and for valuable equipment to help children with disabilities.
“I just wanted to help out,” said Sophie.
“I have a younger sister with down syndrome and I’ve been a swimming teacher for a while, so I know the importance of the swim program, especially for children with a disability.”
Cheering Sophie on, as well as doing her own laps for the cause, was centre manager Kirsten James.
She explained 37 people had swum to raise money with an extra $50 being raised from a barbeque.
A kids jumping castle was also set up for families, but the overcast weather and threatening clouds scared some people away.
However those who competed did so in all sorts of manner that included noodle races and participants also in the 25 metre indoor and heated pool.
“I’d be ecstatic if we raised $5000, that would be double what we planned,” Ms James said.
“Most people did 100 to 300 metres this morning.”
“When she [Sophie] said [she would swim 5kms] I thought she must be crazy.
“She’s hoping to raise $1000 by herself.” With the $1000 raised by Sophie alone, the total amount raised so far is over $4000.
“I dunno why I choose 5kms, it sounded good at the time,” said Sophie as she prepared to finish her remaining 25 laps.