Sept. 27, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The second annual Fighting Irish Swim Clinic, with funds going directly to South Bend’s RiverBend Cancer Services, is set for this Saturday, Sept. 29 at Rolfs Aquatic Center and will be run by the Notre Dame women’s swimming team and head coach Brian Barnes, with a special appearance from 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Tyler McGill.
The clinic, which began in 2011 and raised over $5,000 for the local clinic, still has spots available for local teens, as walk-ups will be accepted for both of the two clinics.
Both clinics are open to swimmers age 8-18 with all experience levels welcome. Clinic one begins at 9:30 a.m. and wraps up at 1 p.m., with clinic two getting underway at 1:30 p.m. and lasting until 5 p.m. The base contribution is $75, but higher contributions are greatly appreciated, with all funds going directly to RiverBend Cancer Services.
On Thursday, the Kelly Cares Foundation, a charity founded by Notre Dame football head coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui, made a donation of $10,000 to the Fighting Irish Swim Clinic, a Coaches vs. Cancer event, in honor of Barnes’ late wife Alyssa, who passed away in April.
“I want to thank Brian and Paqui for their unbelievable generosity,” said Barnes. “I’m deeply touched by the contribution and it puts me at a loss for words. It demonstrates the unbelievable character we have at Notre Dame and it helps represent to me why Notre Dame is the greatest university in the world.”
McGill, who won a gold medal at last month’s Olympics after swimming in the prelims for the victorious 4x100m medley relay team, was a standout performer at Auburn University when Barnes was an assistant there from 2005-08. He finished sixth in the 100m butterfly in London after qualifying second at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
“Tyler is a salt of the earth type of person,” said Barnes in July. “He is a hard worker. I coached him at Auburn for three years and I know the type of person he is. He didn’t even hesitate when I asked him at the Olympic Trials if he would come out and help us out with this clinic. We are excited to have him on our campus. I think everyone will be able to learn from him, including coaches, college swimmers and the swimming clinic participants.”
Riverbend Cancer Services is dedicated to helping people in the local community in their fight against cancer, by providing financial assistance, advocacy services and emotional support. Free services include:
- Prescription drug financial assistance
- Medical equipment loan
- Providing nutritional supplements
- Counseling and support and educational programs for entire family
- Free wigs and prosthetics for breast cancer survivors
- Resource Library
The Kelly Cares Foundation was established by the Kelly family to support organizations, initiatives and programs that closely align with the goals and values of the Kelly family in three pillars: health, education and community. Specifically, the foundation focuses on breast cancer research, education and institutional advancement and community involvement in selected initiatives and projects.
For more information on the second annual Fighting Irish Swim Clinic, stay tuned to UND.com or follow the Irish on Facebook (facebook.com/NDwSwimming) or on Twitter (@NDwSwimming).
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