Sports

Woodbury Swimmers Raise Funds for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Teams did "wacky relays" as part of the school's ROAR (Reaching Out As Royal) program, which asks athletic teams to do a community service project

Swimming the corkscrew and chugging a juice box before jumping back into the pool and heading for the other end?

That’s just one of the “wacky relays” members of the girls and boys swimming and diving teams did to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Minnesota.

The teams presented an oversized check for more than $1,600 to the group on Monday, the third year the teams have raised funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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Former boys swim coach Chad Cronin, whose parents suffered from leukemia, started the fundraiser, said current coach Marty Hoven. The initiative is part of the school’s ROAR (Reaching Out As Royal) program, which asks athletic teams to do a community service project, he said.

The money the Woodbury teams raised will go to research about blood diseases and patient services, said Kelly Velazquez, Pennies for Patients manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She said several schools raise money for the organization, “But you guys blew them out of the water.”

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The boys and girls swim teams combined for the relays, said Michelle Lieder, who coaches the girls. It’s a chance for the teams to have some fun and raise money for a good cause. “They have a good time,” she said.

The cause was especially noteworthy for diver Andrew Pederson, who was diagnosed with hodgkin's lymphoma in 2007. He later had a stem cell transplant and has since been symptom-free. As for his fellow swimmers raising money for Pennies for Patients: "It's really cool," Pederson said.

Lake Middle School

Lake Middle School is also collecting change for Pennies for Patients. People can donate online here.


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