Kaia Hedlund who organized the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the Naples Island Swims, and the Collegiate Open Water Championship announced the 43rd annual Swim With Mike event of April 6th that will held at University of Southern California’s Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
“Tod Spieker Masters Workout will be coached by USC swim coaches including Head Coach Lea Maurer. There is no need to be affiliated with a Masters Swim team or even be a great swimmer. Tod Spieker will match all donations and sponsorships funded by masters swimmers. And there will be awesome swag for those who raise or donate more than $50. Enjoy a full day of activities at the site of the 1984 Olympic Swimming Competition.”
Swim With Mike raises funds to support the Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund.
Hedlund explains, “The Swim with Mike Foundation changes the lives of many by spreading hope, inspiring courage, and providing the gift of education to physically challenged athletes.”
Parking is free for people attending Swim With Mike. Parking gates open at 7 am. The Jefferson lot entrance at 1066 West Jefferson Blvd that is adjacent to the pool. For more information and to participate, register and/or donate, visit www.swimwithmike.org.
So many people have been positively impacted with this organization. See many Impact Stories here and below.
Founder Mike Nyeholt
Mike Nyeholt is a 1978 USC graduate who was paralyzed as a result of a motorcycle accident in 1981.
His USC teammates came together and held a fundraiser with the hopes of being able to provide him with a wheelchair accessible van. The event, spearheaded by Nyeholt’s childhood friend and USC collegiate teammate Ron Orr raised more money than was needed to purchase the vehicle. Nyeholt decided use the extra money to form a new scholarship fund to help other physically challenged athletes. The annual event Swim With Mike continues to this day. A documentary film Swim With Mike [watch here] was produced about the life and generosity and inspiration of Nyeholt.
The Swim With Mike Foundation has raised more than $26 million for the Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund with the help of swimming friends, family members, volunteers, and donors. While he retired after 25 years at the Capital Group Companies where he retired in 2011, Nyeholt continues to serve as the Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Swim With Mike Foundation.
The impact of Swim With Mike has become known as the Ripple Effect as the movement of the organization continues to change the lives of young physically challenged athletes who have been awarded scholarships to pursue higher education. To date, the national foundation has given scholarships to 271 recipients at 142 universities across 47 states.
© Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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