Swimming for a Cause

Take a dive in the pool this weekend to help the underserved.

A Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge will be held Sunday at the Culver City Municipal Pool to raise money for free swim lessons for Los Angeles kids who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge Director Larry Turkheimer is convinced that participating in this weekend’s swim challenge is a great way to help other people while also helping yourself.

“The Coast 2 Coast Swim Challenge gives people a chance to get a great work out and have a great time while raising funds to provide free swim instruction for kids who otherwise could not afford lessons,” said Turkheimer who is also co-founder of the LA Tri Club which is sponsoring the event. “Our goal is to double the amount raised in 2012, so that we can help even more kids learn how to become safe in the water and experience the fun of swimming.”

Turkheimer said last year's event raised $21,000. There were 504 kids who were taught to swim as a result. The goal is to do enough laps to swim a collective 2,462 miles, or the distance from Los Angeles to New York.

Olympic gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg is also scheduled to be on hand Sunday morning to lend his support to the cause.

There is still time to sign up online. Fees range from $25 for 30-minute swims to $45 to swim for 90 minutes.

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