The Bulkley Valley Otters need help reaching their full potential.
On Sunday, the Smithers swimming club members will be pushed to the limit as they attempt to raise as much money as possible to help offset members’ travel costs.
“One of our biggest difficulties here is travel cost,” Otters head coach Tom Best said.
“Getting to and from competitions and training camps is a major cost that I feel hampers us.”
This week, members of the not-for-profit swim club will be hitting up friends, neighbours and random people on the street, asking for donations to the organization, Best said.
Money raised will help pay travel costs for competitions so club members can test their mettle against the best swimmers in the province and continue to advance.
This season, the Otters have stood up very well to the top swimmers in B.C., Best said.
“Technically, the swimmers have come a long way,” Best said.
“The have begun to be proficient in all areas of their strokes and other skills like starts.
“Training-wise, they have been swimming very fast in practices in a manner that will carry over to be great race strategies.”
Something Best has noticed this season is the more experienced club members have been setting their own goals and deciding on the best way to get there.
“I feel that we are headed toward the athlete-centred and driven program and away from the traditional coach-centred and controlled style,” he said.
The Bulkley Valley Otters is made up of about 65 members, from the ages of five to 17.
The swim-a-thon takes place from 10 a.m. to noon.
Looking ahead the club is preparing for the long course provincial meets, coming up at the end of June.
Anyone interested in donating to the Bulkley Valley Otters can drop by the pool between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. or email Tom Best at tomubest@hotmail.com.