The 19th Annual One Hour Swim will be held on January 20 and 27 at John Jay College. Online registration is now open and the registration deadline has been extended to January 11. The event is part of the USMS One Hour Postal Championships, an annual meet held across the country. Swimmers get in the water, swim for 60 minutes without stopping, and get out. The objective is to see how far one can go.
Team New York Aquatics uses the event as an opportunity to do something more. Every year we turn it into a fundraising event, a chance to help out local AIDS support organizations.
This year's event will raise money for two beneficiaries. The first is the AIDS Service Center NYC, which offers a comprehensive array of services promoting the well-being, empowerment, and stability of persons living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS throughout the City and the neighboring areas. These programs include peer education, training and outreach; specialized women's services; health promotion and harm reduction initiatives; links to medical care and appropriate housing; translation assistance and child care support; HIV treatment education; supportive counseling; and much more. The second is the Ali Forney Center, which provides LGBT homeless youths (aged 16-24) with the support and services they need to escape the streets and begin to live healthy, independent lives. AFC currently provides help for 2,000 persons a year with services including five emergency housing sites, four transitional housing sites, a network of resources in New York City, and a day center that offers clinical and support services. TNYA is proud to be able to help both organizations further their mission.
In addition, we will be collecting donations from partipants, volunteers, and spectators of gently used (or new) caps and goggles, for donation to NYC Parks & Recreation programs. So please clear out your swim bag and bring in anything you won't use to help new swimmers enjoy our sport!
For more information, download an info/registration packet now. If you aren't interested in swimming the event, but would like to be involved, we always need volunteer timers. Drop a line to our organizers and they'll tell you more.