Swim-A-Cross raises nearly $7K

Some 200 young swimmers from eight Town of Hempstead pools splashed through the water at the Newbridge Park pool in Bellmore on Tuesday, swimming laps and playing water games in the town’s sixth annual Swim-A-Cross, which raised $6,900 for the American Red Cross of Long Island.

Swimmers raise money over five weeks, asking friends and family members to sponsor them at the event, which has amassed $55,000 over the years, according to Red Cross of Nassau County Senior Director Sam Kille. As swimmers got out of the pool and wrapped themselves in towels, Kille reminded them that the money they raised would stay on Long Island to help their neighbors.

“There are hundreds of disasters like house fires and flooding here on Long Island,” Kille said.

The town pools include Averill in Elmont, Echo in West Hempstead, Forest City in Wantagh, Malibu in Lido Beach, Newbridge, Oceanside, Rath in Franklin Square and Veterans in East Meadow.

At the Swim-A-Cross, teams competed to raise the most money for the Red Cross of Long Island, with the top three squads receiving trophies and recognition from John Miller, chief executive officer of Red Cross for the New York metropolitan area. Swimmers cheered and waited eagerly to hear who had taken first place. Kille happily announced that the host team, the Newbridge Dolphins, had raised the most money, contributing $1,478 to the cause. Rath’s swim team came in second, with $1,374, and Echo’s squad was third, with $1,271. The other five teams also received recognition for their fundraising.

Corey Brinkin of the Rath pool, who raised the most money individually — $400 — earned a special award: two tickets to a New York Islanders game and the chance to high-five players before the game as they leave their locker room.

The Swim-A-Cross encouraged a spirit of sportsmanship and fun, Kille said. “They’re in a friendly competition,” he noted.

Newbridge swim coach Matt Gassert agreed. Gassert, a recent SUNY New Paltz graduate and an alumnus of Kennedy High School in Bellmore, said the home team was happy to share their pool with fellow swimmers from throughout Hempstead. The teams even held a joint practice.

Gassert added that he couldn’t have been more proud of his swimmers for having raised as much as they did. Members of the Newbridge team began looking for donors at the beginning of the summer season, and parents sold snacks and drinks at a concession stand during home meets. Most of the swimmers are Bellmore-Merrick locals, and spend nearly every day practicing and beating the summer heat at Newbridge, Gassert said.

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