Greg Lang, Mayor of Carterton, will join 11 other swimmers on Saturday 19 March in a 10km swim to aim to earn the rest of the funds needed. Molly and friends will be there to count the laps.
And at around 300 lengths – roughly the distance from the Waingawa River to central Carterton - there will be plenty to count.
“After the fantastic efforts of our community and groups to raise such a tremendous amount in such a short time, we must raise enough to realise Molly’s dream,” Greg said.
“We would love for our 10km swim to help put the amount over the top and ensure we can provide a new slide, murals, and other good stuff at our much-loved free pools. Thank you Molly, and thank you Carterton!”
Fellow swimmer Lucy Griffiths said she loves “a good challenge and this one has a great cause linked to it. My young boys and I discovered the Carterton Pool a year ago and we love it on hot afternoons. The three outdoor pools are perfect for the whole whanau. I want to do my bit to support it so that the whole extended community can continue to enjoy it. The wee yellow slide is in constant use but the blue one as Molly rightfully puts it, is unsafe and needs replacing. Bring on the new one!"
Teammate Ali Gordon said swimming is an important life skill. "When I was about 3 or 4 years old, I recall being thrown into the deeper end of an outdoor pool by my rather tough swim teacher. I had 2 options - sink or swim. I swam. Despite my scary start to swimming, I have always loved being in the water. I especially love swimming under the open sky. I will attempt to swim 10k for Molly and for many other children who will have the opportunity to learn to swim in a fun pool, without the scariness that I had to overcome."
Bridie Allen, another colleague, said the challenge is a way to give back to the "awesome Carterton community. We are so lucky to have this outdoor swimming facility in our town. My kids and I have spent many hours there, playing, training, learning to swim, and cooling off. Also committing to this event has given me a training goal.”
