GS Swimming & Diving Participates In Tread-A-Thon For Water Safety Awareness
9/29/2017 1:32:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
Eagles took to the water on Wednesday to try and set a Guinness World Record while also helping promote water safety
STATESBORO, Ga. - On Wednesday, September 27th, the Georgia Southern swimming and diving team took part in a worldwide Tread-A-Thon to help raise awareness for water safety in conjunction with the International Water Safety Foundation.
Members of the Eagle swimming and diving team, along with the Georgia Southern Club Water Polo Team, took to the water at 5 p.m. and treaded for 30 minutes, joining in with many other collegiate teams and clubs in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the most people treading water at the same time.
The event was created by the IWSF, which is a non-profit organization raising drowning awareness while bringing basic swimming, water safety, and safe rescue skills to children in developing countries.
Head Coach Laura Thomas and the Eagles were proud to be a part of spreading the message of water safety through their participation. "The tread-a-thon was a lot of fun!" Coach Thomas said. "I am hoping that we get to do it again next year, because we have a lot of ideas on how to incorporate other parts of campus to really make it a special event that raises awareness for the global drowning pandemic."
Drowning statistics around the world are astounding. Nearly 40 people drown every hour across the globe, accounting for more than 350,000 deaths annually. The funds raised from this Tread-A-Thon will help to employ swimming instructors in low-income countries to try and combat this staggering number.
Georgia Southern will open up the 2017-18 season at a swimming tri-meet at the University of North Florida on Saturday, October 7th. The Eagles will host their first dual meet of the season on Friday, October 20th, at 5 p.m. the RAC.
