SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ABOUT TIMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS...PLEASE READ
Here is an e-mail I received a few nights ago that I wanted to share with everyone.
Sometimes in the world of compeitive swimming we overlook the really important, and meaningful things we do, while not thinking about the future implications those actions may have. We tend to focus on times, and levels of achievement. Sometimes in the bigger picture, just to have someone learn to swim and save their lives can be a much bigger accomplishment. I feel really honored to find out that I may have impacted someones life to move them to help others the way Tracy Pate has.
Dear Coach Don and Connie
I want to thank you very much for the introduction you gave me into swimming. You probably don't remember me but I swam for you many years ago back at the Buckingham pool for only a year.
But I would like for you to know what that year has done for me twenty plus years later.
I have been part of a nonprofit all volunteer USA swim club in Hardee county for the past eight years , first time back at the pool since 1989. But since I have been involved we HSA have started a swim program that has taken dozens of swimmers to the regional level in HS swimming and implemented the importance of swimming in a community that has never thought much of this sport. This is a very rural agriculture community .
And many people couldn't even swim and now can competitively swim. We HSA and many volunteers have started the get wet program were we teach over 250 kids to swim every summer for free the last four summers over one thousand .
To do this HSA asked me to become and American Red Cross instructor Trainer so we could get as many volunteers certified at no cost so we could teach as many children and Adults to swim .
I truly believe that in the year I swam for you that you taught me so much that has enriched this program in Hardee County and I truly owe you a huge thank you, I felt you should know this since the year I swam for you has taught so many others to swim and has brought this wonderful sport to such a small community . We even just sent a young man to college swimming that has only competitively swam for two years in the summer and High School .I always would tell him train hard swim fast ! Now he is in college. I do believe those words have been used before .
I wanted to share this with you because your the seed of this wonderful program that has grown.
But I would like for you to know what that year has done for me twenty plus years later.
I have been part of a nonprofit all volunteer USA swim club in Hardee county for the past eight years , first time back at the pool since 1989. But since I have been involved we HSA have started a swim program that has taken dozens of swimmers to the regional level in HS swimming and implemented the importance of swimming in a community that has never thought much of this sport. This is a very rural agriculture community .
And many people couldn't even swim and now can competitively swim. We HSA and many volunteers have started the get wet program were we teach over 250 kids to swim every summer for free the last four summers over one thousand .
To do this HSA asked me to become and American Red Cross instructor Trainer so we could get as many volunteers certified at no cost so we could teach as many children and Adults to swim .
I truly believe that in the year I swam for you that you taught me so much that has enriched this program in Hardee County and I truly owe you a huge thank you, I felt you should know this since the year I swam for you has taught so many others to swim and has brought this wonderful sport to such a small community . We even just sent a young man to college swimming that has only competitively swam for two years in the summer and High School .I always would tell him train hard swim fast ! Now he is in college. I do believe those words have been used before .
I wanted to share this with you because your the seed of this wonderful program that has grown.
Thank you so very Much
Tracy ( Wright ) Pate
863-448-2128
