By Ronan Creaney

For those of you planning to take up swimming as one of your many New Year’s resolutions, you could do no worse than take encouragement and follow the example of the St. Sebastian’s CYO swim team. 

The Woodside, Queens-based club held their annual fundraising swim a couple of weeks ago, and the achievements of these young boys and girls would put many land lovers to shame. 

Aged between five and 15, these budding Michael Phelpses and Natalie Coughlins swam a combined 553 miles, destroying last year’s total of 409 laps and in the process setting a new record in this, the third year of the swimathon. 

One young man, Mike Aboulleit, all of 11 years old, swam an amazing 792 laps, or to put in perspective, 11 miles! The girls were not too far behind, with Deirdre Dolan, Melody Humphries, Laura Corrigan and Sally Humphries among others reaching the 10-mile mark.

The swimathon is the brainchild of swim coach Shawn Slevin, and the purpose of the event is to raise funds to support the swim program and fund the club’s end of year team trip and most improved swimmer’s award trip.

Slevin’s involvement with the club dates back to its very beginning, as she was one of the original program swimmers. She has been volunteering now for 31 years and has two regular volunteer assistants. The older kids also play their part, passing on their knowledge to the younger swimmers. 

Slevin points out the beauty of the swimathon is that everyone get to participate and to contribute, from beginner swimmers like Seamus Finneran, a member of the developmental program who swam a very respectable 36 laps, (1/2 mile) to the more competitive swimmers like Darragh Leddy and Danielle Togher, who each swam 504 laps. 

At present there are 163 kids in the program, and two former members have gone on to swim in the Olympics with many more receiving college scholarships. 

Slevin herself tasks great pride in the club as she recognizes how it can influence children’s lives and mold strong personalities.

“There’s nothing like being able to touch kids’ lives in a way that is so positive and teaches them life lessons through the venue of swimming. This is the gift they give me year after year,” she says.

“I and the families of the St. Sebastian swim team would also like to thank the local businesses who supported us and helped by providing gift certificates and prizes helping to make the day a great success.” 

Following up on the success of the swimathon, the boys had a significant win against LIAM last week, securing them the Queens Divisional Championship. 

Anyone interested in hearing more about the current program and events, contact Shawn Slevin at Shawn.Slevin@att.net. Their fundraising goal is $15,000, and they are halfway there. 

If you would care to make a tax-deductible donation, make your checks out to St. Sebastian CYO Fund, place “Swimathon” in the notes section, and send them in care of Slevin at St. Sebastian Parish Center, 36-60 57th Street, Woodside, New York 11377.