Swimathon for Noah Cariolato

To be held on January 15 from 1pm – 5.30pm at Springwood Aquatic and Fitness Centre, swimmers will do lap after lap, until they can swim no longer.

Josh Power swam with Noah in the club’s performance squad and he hopes to swim for 4.5 hours in support of his friend.

“He [Noah] always trains hard … he’s a really strong competitor who never gives up,” Josh said. 

Afterwards, he and a few others will have their heads shaved by Noah if he’s well enough.

“We want Noah to know we’re thinking of him and to make him feel more comfortable,” Josh said.

Funds raised from the swimathon will go directly to support 15-year-old club member Noah Cariolato, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Glenbrook swimmer has competed at the National Age Championships three years in a row, and his favoured strokes are freestyle and breaststroke.

The swimathon is open to anyone in the community who would like to participate either on the day or for those who would just like to make a donation, said club treasurer Kellie Power. For younger swimmers a relay-style event will be organised. 

Past Springwood Swimming Club members including rising swim star Matt Wilson have signed up, as well as clubs as far west as Orange.

“We anticipate there will be a number of swimathons held by various clubs in the Mountains and Plains region on the same day so that collectively we can have as many swimmers ‘Swim for Noah’ as possible,” Mrs Power said.

“We hope to make the day a fun, party-like event to let Noah and his family know how important they are to everyone in our club.”

All funds raised will go into a bank account to be used by the Cariolatos for whatever they need to support Noah in getting well and getting back to all the things he loves, including swimming.

Donations can be made into: account name: Swim for Noah, bank: CBA, BSB: 062601, account: 10432075.