Due to the complexity of securing a venue for our 7th Annual SFS Youth Triathlon, we have decided to postpone our race to later summer or early Fall. We apologize that this is not only a change in venue but also a change in scheduling, but this was an unavoidable outcome. To schedule a late May race now would be hectic and would sacrifice the quality of our experience. Wee have all intentions of holding a 2013 race, but until we have secured a SAFE, accessible and fun venue that can accommodate over 1,000 kids and spectators in the Triangle area, we can’t set a date for our event. We are diligently working with UNC (still a potential location) as well as a few select venues to partner with. We will announce any progress here on the site as well as on our Facebook page as soon as we have something definitive.
Again, we apologize for the inconvenience but we promise a safe and exciting race even if we have to keep postponing it to get there.
Registration for the Spring 2013 season of the Thundercats youth triathlon team run by Triangle Multisport and Swim for Smiles is now active!
We have an exciting schedule planned and will stick to practices on Wednesday evenings from 5-6 p.m. and Sunday afternoons from 3-4:30 p.m., with the first practice on Sunday March 3 and going through Wednesday May 22.
The price will also stay the same as last year at only $350. We again bring an outstanding coaching staff to lead the team of 6-12 year olds. The only requirements are that the child be able to swim one length of the pool without stopping or assistance and ride a bike without training wheels.
A TENTATIVE schedule can also be found on the site. I hope to see many of you again in March! If you have any questions or concerns please let me know!
Dave
USA Triathlon Level II coach UNC Triathlon Team head coach TMS-SFS Youth Triathlon Team head coach ACSM Health Fitness Specialist USA Cycling certified coach
For the second year in a row, the Swim for Smiles Foundation is participating in the Chapel Hill Holiday Parade scheduled for 10 a.m. this Saturday, December 8th.
We want you to come march with us in the parade from 10 a.m. to Noon. We’ll have kids representing all three parts of a triathlon (you pick where you want to be).
Swimmers (bring your goggles – we’ll supply swim caps)
Bikers (bring your bike)
Runners (wear winter running gear!)
We have plenty of FREE Swim for Smiles t-shirts for you to put on over your clothes and we’ll supply tons of candy for you to throw to kids along the parade route.
Interested? Just show up in Chapel Hill at the intersection of Franklin Street and Henderson Street (in front of McAlister’s Deli) at 9:30 a.m. THIS SATURDAY!!! See you there!
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel the RunFest. We apologize for this last minute notice, but we just made the decision to cancel the event last Friday. We had no alternatives.
We still want to give back to the hospital – as is our tradition for the Swim for Smiles Foundation. So in lieu of the race, we will be delivering wrapped holiday toys to both the North Carolina Children’s Hospital and the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center on Sunday Dec. 16th – the day we had planned to hold the race.
So, if you planned to race, please consider joining us at the TOP LEVEL of the Craig Parking Deck on the campus of the University of North Carolina at 9 a.m., Dec. 16, when we will deliver these presents to the kids in the hospital. A campus map and location of the Craig Parking Deck is here, marked “CD” on this map: http://www.dps.unc.edu/maps/campus/Guide.pdf
Again, we apologize for the cancelation of this event. However, this toy drive will allow kids to help kids – our mission.
We realize the excitement your kids may have had around our RunFest, and we hope they will join us for the Toy Delivery on Dec. 16th as an alternative way to give back to the hospital.
Top fundraising boy Henry Benjamin excited about iPad prize
We just wanted to share with SFS supporters a picture of Henry Benjamin, top fundraising boy during this year’s Swim for Smiles FUNDays of Summer!
Every summer, the swim teams of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area participate in the Swim for Smiles FUNDays of Summer. The top fundraising boy and girl receive a grand prize (this year it was the new iPad), and the winning team receives the Wacky Relay Day trophy and an ice cream party sponsored by TCBY.
Congrats again to both fundraising champs — Henry and Daisy (check out Daisy’s story here) — and thanks for all your hard work!
Follow Swim for Smiles on Twitter and see what we’re up to on Facebook!
You guessed it: we’ve mapped out each of the three running courses for RunFest located on the UNC Chapel Hill campus near Hooker and Fetzer Fields! Check it out:
1K Map
3K Map
5K Map
Click to Enlarge
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You can also find this information and more about RunFest — everything from registration information to way to get involved — here: http://swimforsmiles.org/events/runfest/
We’re really excited to officially launch the Swim for Smiles RunFest, which will take place at UNC’s campus on Dec. 16!
RunFest is the first and only road race intended for all ages:
The 1K race (0.62 miles) is designed for kids ages 10 and under
The 3K race (1.68 miles) is designed for kids ages 18 and under
The 5K race (3.1 miles) is designed for ALL ages — parents and kids — and yes, parents feel free to run with your kids for this race
Proceeds from the race benefit the UNC Burn Center as well as the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.
So why do we call it RunFest?
We want this race to combine the thrill of a road race with the fun, family-friendly festivities that you’re accustomed to if you’ve ever attended our annual triathlon. Whether you come as a participant or as a cheerleader, we’re united in our support of kids helping kids!
Daisy Mozgala with Gary Kayye and fundraising prize
Allow us to introduce to all our Swim for Smiles supporters 10-year-old Daisy Mozgala.
She was 6 years old when she first joined her local swim team and has enjoyed racing ever since – not just on her swim team, but also with family and friends, including her good friend Mr. Z of Chapel Hill who, Daisy told us proudly, she once beat by five laps!
Every summer, the swim teams of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area participate in the Swim for Smiles FUNDays of Summer.
Top fundraising boy Henry Benjamin excited about fundraising prize
Youth swimmers donate their time at the Chapel Hill TCBY to raise money for the Swim for Smiles Foundation, which benefits the N.C. Children’s Hospital. This year we had over 600 kids participate and raised nearly $20,000!
Daisy took part in the Swim for Smiles FUNDays of Summer, which culminated in the much-anticipated Wacky Relay Day event. In addition to all the crazy relays and festivities, the highlight of Wacky Relay Day for Daisy was finally winning an iPad, the award given to the top fundraising boy and girl. Daisy not only was the top-fundraising girl, but the fact that she raised $1,600 made her the top fundraiser overall.
Well congratulations, Daisy! Your hard work paid off! Not only did you and all the other participants work together to help a lot of kids at the N.C. Children’s Hospital, but you beat your own athletic and fundraising goals.
We’re proud of you and we’ll see you next year!
The top fundraising boy and winner of an iPad is Henry Benjamin who, due to extenuating circumstances, was unable attend Wacky Relay Day. Henry, we’re proud of your achievements, too, and look forward to crossing paths at another Swim for Smiles event in the future!
Despite the fact that this year’s Wacky Relay Day fell on Friday the 13th (WoooOOooOOOoooo), the relays and festivities took place without a hitch!
In fact, the swim teams that participated in the event raised more than $20,000 for the N.C. Children’s Hospital!
A special round of congrats goes out to Henry Benjamin & Daisy Mozgala, the two winners of the new iPad, for raising the most money during the SFS FUNDays of Summer!
Wacky Relay Day, sponsored by SFS, is an opportunity for everyone swim and have fun at the Koury Natatorium, one week prior to the Summer Champs. Some of the relays that day included a
Noodle Relay
Pyramid Relay (kids from each age group on one relay team)
Wacky Stroke Relay
Parent/Child Relay
Thanks to all the swimmers and Swim for Smiles supporters that participated in all the festivities — and good luck at Summer Champs!
Many of you attended this year’s 6th Annual Swim for Smiles Youth Triathlon and got to experience the King BMX Stunt Team‘s phenomenal performance during the race!
We’re so happy that they were able to come out and help us support the kids and entertain to the community during the Finish Line Festival.
Check out the picture gallery above for some of their awesome stunts and you won’t be surprised to find out that in April, King BMX was approached by NBC’s hit show America’s Got Talent to audition. On America’s Got Talent, you’ll see them as “American BMX Stunt Team” and they made it to the LIVE shows (Semi-Finals) in NYC.
Join us in showing your support by voting for them on Monday, July 2 at 8:30PM EST on NBC. Watch Keith King and his posse of 10 professional BMX, inline skate, and scooter athletes perform, and then VOTE when the show provides the call-in number!
Like ‘em on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and watch their video below:
