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Health & Fitness

You can't help but smile as you watch Riley swim at Fowler Y

“At Fowler YMCA, we measure our success by the impact we have on the lives we serve.  I’d like to share with you one member’s story that just made my week,” said Mark Thornell, Executive Director.  

 By Judy Smith:  “I wanted to share my experience with you regarding the Fowler Family YMCA swimming program. I am a mother of an 8 year child with Down Syndrome, Riley.  I have been a member of the Y for 12 years.  I started putting Riley in the water at 10 months. He has always loved the water.  I found out about the Y's private lesson program and he began private lessons at age 2.  He stayed in private lessons until his Coach, suggested the regular swim program.  He was then transferred to typical swimming lessons and has been there for the last 4 years.


Riley is very close to swimming and in June of this year his Coach suggested putting him on the swim team.  He is a great "copier" of others and seeing the other children swim laps should motivate him to do the same.  

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I know that the Y has several children with special needs on the swim team and I have been impressed by the Y's inclusion of "differently abled" children.  What most people don't realize is that kids are kids regardless of abilities.  They want to belong; they want to have friends; they want to be part of a team.  I want my son to have that experience through the Y swim team.  


I fully support The Y's program, its' Judeo-Christian values and am thankful for your willingness to include my son.  A swim team is the perfect opportunity to learn the core values of the Y, "Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility".  

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So thank you for this opportunity for my son to be part of a team; thank you for a swimming program that has supported him; thank you for wonderful swimming instructors like Mika Barbeau.  She has been instrumental in motivating him and getting him to where he is today in the water.  She has been the constant element in the swim program that otherwise has college kids that come and go. She has developed a personal relationship with Riley and he trusts her.  And having witnessed this trust, I have unfailing trust in her, her abilities and her desire to succeed in teaching my son.   I look forward to watching Riley swim on the swim team!”

If your child is interested in joining a winning Swim Team, stop by the Y today.  Registration for swimmers returning to the Team began July 22, and for those new to the Team, registration opens July 29.  

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