The Flying Fish swim team at the YWCA Evanston/North Shore has raised over $98,000 from its annual swim marathon.
Ana Woods, center, and other members of the Flying Fish Swim Team.
More than 450 swimmers swam a total of 47,510 lengths of the pool to raise the money — which amounted to an increase of more than 45 percent in the average sponsorships per swimmer over last year.
Funds raised by the swim marathon help the YWCA Evanston/North Shore continue to provide healthy aquatic programming, bring violence prevention and building healthy relationship programming to area schools, and provide shelter and support to women and children in the YWCA’s Domestic Violence Services.
Additional Flying Fish community services includes annual participation in the Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate, support of the YWomen Leadership Awards, contributions to clothing and Helping Hands holiday drives for Mary Lou’s Place, adoption of rooms at the shelter and planting/caretaking of gardens on the property, and planning parties and activities for the children in the shelter.