Jump in for Joplin!

Because swimmers are the coolest people on Earth.

After the May 22nd tornado hit Joplin, there was an outpouring of support from swim teams from all over the nation hoping to help swim families get on their feet.  Joplin was crawling with volunteers from all over the country and it is amazing how much has been done in the months since the storm.  We all knew though, that after the initial surge of volunteers came and went, there would still be many families with needs that would not have been met for various reasons.

One of the emails I got that offered help went a little above and beyond what I had seen.  A coach in Wisconsin who I had become friends with over email, Vicki Terlap, sent me a message saying that she was organizing a fundraising event called Jump in for Joplin.  How cool is that?  She got a few swim teams together and made a truly inspiring event of it.  They raised $1159.00 and it looks like they had a lot of fun doing it!  They had all sorts of games and races and it looks like they made it the best kind of party-- the kind that helps a group of total strangers who are friends through swimming.


I sent them a list of swim families who had major expenses and needs that were not covered by insurance.  Some were ER bills, some were expenses accrued from trying to salvage their homes, some had to do with the loss of vehicles that did not have appropriate coverage.  They were all swim families who have lost a lot, including the lives of loved ones.  Their act of kindness will go a long way to help those who are still in need months after their lives were changed after the terrible storm.  Thank you to everyone involved in the Jump in for Joplin event.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope we can get together at a meet some day and have some fun.  You are amazing and we are eternally grateful!