Submitted by the Capital City Marathon Association
The Capital City Marathon Association (CCMA) awarded its first grant last week to a local program that personifies the CCMA’s dedication to promoting and modeling healthy living through exercise and good nutrition.
The Bears and Wolves Swim Camp will receive a grant of $1,800 from the Capital City Marathon Endowment Fund, which was established in 2011 through the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. The grant will allow for increased pool hours and reduced participation fees, as well as expand access to the swim camp for high school and middle school girls in the Olympia High School and Black Hills High School service areas. The camp is designed for a range of swimmers, from beginners to those interested in competitive swimming.
“Just from a safety standpoint, everyone who lives in the South Puget Sound ought to know how to swim,” said CCMA Board President Jim Lux, who played an integral role in selecting the grant recipient. “We are excited to give Thurston County youth more opportunities to both learn an essential skill and improve at a sport. And of course we hope the participants have fun and gain self-confidence.”
The summer camp is a cooperative effort involving girls’ swim team coaches and swim team members from Olympia High School and Black Hills High School. The camp is held at the North Thurston High School swimming pool and is supported by the Black Hills High School Booster Club and Lacey Parks and Recreation.
In addition to swim coaching, elements of nutrition and physical well-being will be presented during the camp by licensed athletic trainers, local orthopedists and life coaches.
The Capital City Marathon is the longest-running marathon in the South Sound and will hold its 35th annual event in May 2016. The Capital City Marathon Endowment Fund is made possible through non-expended annual event fees.
