Members of the Grosse Pointe Sailfish swim team are pretty accustomed to being in the water, but Wednesday's swim lesson was unlike any other.
"I've never met an Olympian. It was my first time so it was super cool at fun," says __
Every year, swim teams in the area compete in the Corsan Challenge to see who can raise the most money for Detroit Swims. It's a YMCA program that teaches kids who may not otherwise have to means learn how to swim.
This year the Grosse Pointe Sailfish raised the most money. Their prize was aclinic with Olympic gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay.
"I've been involved with Detroit Swims since 2010. That’s when my family got involved and we started the Corsan Challenge four or five years ago and this year we’ve raised over $25,000 -- which is a record -- to go back to Detroit Swims to teach kids in the city water safety skills," says Vanderkaay.
Today was mostly about fun, but the organization it raised money for does something Vanderkaay believes is of the utmost importance.
"We think it shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be a right that everybody knows how to swim, especially in the Great Lakes State. Fear of the water is terrifying for some kids and when they get past that and realize they can do that they can do other things in their life too, so it’s very much empowering," explains Vanderkaay.
