Make a Splash!

My friend Elizabeth Sorensen (Lizzie as I know her) made me aware of a special event taking place THIS FRIDAY at the District Aquatic Center in Port Washington where she is the assistant coach for the high school boys swim team.

The Port Washington-Saukville School District (PWSSD) and the Friends of Swimming and Diving group will be attempting to break the current Guinness World Record for the World's Longest Swim Relay in 24 hours.

This is the district’s second attempt at making history. Last year, they were several hundred people short, and this time they’ll need at least 3,200 people to swim one length of the pool.

Again, the group is extending the invitation to everyone in southeastern Wisconsin because even though our waterways are ice blocks for over half the year, a lot of us still know how to dog paddle.

Here’s the gist:

What: To break the current Guinness World Record for the World's Longest Swim Relay in 24 hours
When: Beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008 and ending at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008
Where: District Aquatic Center, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 1403 N. Holden Street, Port Washington, Wisconsin
Current Record: Palma de Mallorca, Spain: 3,168 people. June 1-2, 2007
Entry Fee: $5 per swimmer. Individuals are encouraged to pre-register by heading over here, otherwise on-site registration will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note: There are several incentive programs that offer you up to $1,000 in returned fees if you bring 200 or more people between 10 a.m. and midnight. That’s not too shabby, if I may say so.

Your part of this record attempt will only take about 30 minutes, most of which will be spent registering and waiting in line for your turn to swim. So, the PWSSD encourages everyone to come out, even if you can’t stay to enjoy the on-deck music or concessions.

Lizzie also mentioned that school kids have the time slots pretty well booked from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thomas Jefferson Middle School has precedence from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., elementary kids – Lincoln, Saukville, Dunwiddie, Port Catholic Elementary Schools – have priority from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. After that, however, anyone is welcome!

“The biggest point we're trying to emphasize is that this is an event that everyone can participate in. There is at least one Special Olympics team that is participating on Friday,” says Lizzie.

You hear that? EVERYONE! This is NOT an exclusive event for residents of Port Washington or those who are avid swimmers. Actually, you don’t have to be an Olympic caliber swimmer to participate. Heck, you don’t even have to put your head under water if you prefer not to. Everything from back and breast strokes to freestyle and doggy paddles are acceptable, as long as they get you across the 25-yard pool, of course.

The very dedicated PWSSD, staff and community are hoping that Friday’s efforts will not only land southeastern Wisconsin in the Guinness Book of World Records, but will raise enough funds – the estimated goal is $200,000 – to aid in renovating and enhancing their swim facilities.

For more information on how you can be a part of this world record attempt, head over here. Or click here to pre-register before Wednesday, April 30.

Comments

[Lizzie]

Karen, you're awesome!! Thanks for bringing this record breaking event to the blog audience! We WILL break this record :)

[Karen]

You're very welcome, Lizzie!

I'm hoping to make it there Friday night to help!

[wfbdoglover]

I will check with the little guy. I am sure we can fit it in our schedule.

I read about this in the 2007 World Book of Records the young man brought home from school for me. I was looking for a treading water record to break. This will be an excellent opportunity for all of us to part take in.

Lizze should contact the JCC for some extra advertising. I bet there might be a few life guards that may be interested...

If you would like a contact, I can pass on.

Now if anyone can help me on my quest to find 25 "friendly" dogs to walk to break that record, I would be greatful. I have 16...

[Mary]

Karen and Lizzie, this makes me want to come down to help and swim! i think it would be fun to bring a whole bus full. i hope that it all works out wonderfully! Good Luck! Enjoy the swim! i'm sure that with it only lasting for 30 minutes...the community should be able to find enough people to show up for this event! I hope to hear more about it in a future blog!

[Karen]

Thanks Mary! You should still come down to Milwaukee and visit me AND Lizzie anyway!!