MORE people than ever before can access the Singleton Gym and Swim indoor pool thanks to their new mobility hoist that allows people with a physical disability to enter safely.
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The hoist was officially unveiled on Sunday March 2, this year’s YMCA Swimathon charity day that made the project a reality.
In two years the centre has raised $22,000 through the Swimathon to install the mobility hoist and also offer more affordable swimming lessons for disabled swimmers in Singleton, particularly children.
The YMCA offers the SwimAbility program that sees qualified instructors give one-on-one swimming lessons for people with any disability so they can have the joy of swimming and learn vital water safety skills.
“We encourage all people with a disability to see what we can do to help them and to check out the hoist itself,” centre manager Elaine Burke said.
The Swimathon is a national campaign for the YMCA however all the money raised by each centre goes back to their local pool.
On the day swimmers make a target distance for them to achieve in the pool for the Swimathon and then try to raise as much money as they can through sponsors and donations.
Anyone is encouraged to join in the event and many use it as a way to test themselves by setting a target goal.
It takes more than jumping into the pool to achieve the goal though with business donations however large or small making the targets possible at all.
Around 50 businesses contributed to the day through the donation of items or money to the cause.
Big contributors to the YMCA Swimathon were Coal & Allied who donated $5,000 to last year’s local campaign.
While the Swimathon day has been completed donations can still be made until the end of March, anyone who is interested in donating is welcome to donate at the swimming centre during business hours.
