The Wardle Family YMCA’s 8th Annual Beaufort River Swim will be held Saturday, May 31, beginning at 8 a.m. The event is a three-mile open water swim beginning at the Port Royal Landing Marina and finishing at the boat ramp at the corner of the Downtown Marina, adjacent to the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

[caption id="attachment_16297" align="alignleft" width="201"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/988227_10151670263920240_1812718363_n.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16297" alt="A swimmer reaches the downtown marina at the end of last year’s Beaufort River Swim sponsored by the YMCA. This year’s swim will be May 31." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/988227_10151670263920240_1812718363_n-201x300.jpg" width="201" height="300" /></a> A swimmer reaches the downtown marina at the end of last year’s Beaufort River Swim sponsored by the YMCA. This year’s swim will be May 31.[/caption]

The cost to participate is $40 and all proceeds directly benefit the Y’s Learn-To-Swim programs. Inquiries may be sent to aquaticsymca@hotmail.com. Online registration is available at active.com or www.ymcabeaufortcounty.com or www.beaufortriverswim.com.

The River Swim is a Lowcountry tradition, with participants of all ages and levels: tri-athletes, recreational lap swimmers and competitive age group swimmers.

YMCA Senior Program Director Rick Simonds hopes to continually increase the success of this event.

“The popularity of The River Swim grows each year and plays an integral role in helping people in our community learn to swim. It is vital for children and adults alike to have this life-saving skill. We love having Olympians like Carlton Bruner and master swimmers like Pete Palmer participate in this event each year.”

In 2013, the Y was able to generate over $5,400 in scholarship funds through the successful River Swim event, impacting the lives of over 120 children who were able to partake in last summer’s Learn-to-Swim summer program. In 2013, more than 1,400 swim lessons were taught.
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