Swimming for Charity

Some groups sell T-shirts to raise money, some go canning. Others do raffles or wash cars.

The Norwich Naval ROTC Battalion went swimming to raise money for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Beginning at 9 p.m. on April 8 and into the next morning, Goodyear Pool was full of students and faculty swimming laps for a cause.

"We had music playing, and everyone was having a good time. It was pretty packed early on," said Kylee Trelegan, a 21-year-old senior nursing major from Coventry, Conn.    

The event was planned entirely by Trelegan.

"I began planning for this event around the mid-semester time, and I did the planning myself, with a little guidance beforehand from the midshipman who ran it last year," he said.

Trelegan planned the charity swimming event as the Naval Battalion S-5, whose responsibilities include several fundraisers, such as the Navy-Marine Corps Ball and organizing midshipmen who work during hockey games to raise money.

"The S-5's job is to organize events that raise money for the battalion," Trelegan said. "This is the second year we've had an event like this."

Last year, this event was organized by Dana Flieger, a current senior nursing major, and member of the Norwich NROTC Battalion.

"I participated in the swim last year, and Dana Flieger did give me guidance during the beginning of the year, just about getting it started," Trelegan said.

"We give the Red Cross the money and they have a choice of what to do with it," Trelegan said. "Because Japan just got hit twice, with a tsunami and nuclear plant meltdown, we could expect most of our money to go there."

Kylee Trelegan and the Naval Battalion also have a choice on where the money goes.

"After this event is over, and I collect all final donations this upcoming week, I'll sit down with Colonel Delatte, and we'll discuss where the money should go. But we usually leave it up to the Red Cross," Trelegan said.

NROTC staff and students assisted in running the event; lifeguards were needed to ensure safety the whole night through.

"I came down here to the pool to do my part, and support the swimmers tonight," said Brandon Meskimen, a 20-year-old sophomore computer science major from Collierville, Tenn., who lifeguarded for the event.

"I even donated money myself, 20 cents for every lap I complete. If I complete my intended 30 laps, then I'll give $6 total. It's a small donation, but just my share," Meskimen said.

The event had many participants, including 20 before midnight, and more showed up to swim during the morning hours. Trelegan posted Facebook updates on the hour during the night.

"By 1 a.m. we had reached our halfway point of $1,000," Trelegan said. "Our total goal was $2,000, close to what was raised last year."

By the end of the event, the swim had raised only $1,274. However, Trelegan believes it was still a success, and hopes for an even more successful event next year.

"We leave a turnover folder that explains how to run the event," Trelegan said. "I'll give it to the next person, and then they can make improvements and changes. I have some suggestions I'll put into the folder, and I'll make some comments to the staff as well."

In the beginning of the night, groups of students, as well as midshipmen and cadets, were invited to attend with their respective groups.

"The Semper Fi Society came down here and did some physical training with the pledges earlier in the evening," Trelegan said. "I even invited the Air Force Spec Ops cadets, as well as the Ranger cadets. We want to make this event open to everybody."

The event was also open to donations from those people who didn't swim, so long as the fund was receiving money.

"This is always a fun, enjoyable thing to do, and it brings people together. We really don't have to swim, we could just go around asking for money… but that wouldn't bring people closer, around the pool. It's always good to get people involved," Meskimen said.