With temperatures reaching 98 degrees and a heat advisory warning already issued, the swimmer's from the Levittown Swimming Association (boys and girls age 6 -18) turned out in force on Tuesday, Aug. 1 for their second annual Swim-a-Thon. The swimmer's hit the water at 4 p.m. and didn't finish until 9:30 p.m., completing five and one half hours of nonstop swimming.

Children Helping Children was the slogan of the 400 swimmers representing Team LSA who swam laps to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House and Big Brothers Big Sisters of LI. There were so many swimmers, many under 10, who put in their 72 laps to enter the sacred 1 Mile Club. Many others swam two, three and four miles, with 13-year-old Katie McNamara swimming five miles to lead the pack. Many of LSAs senior swimmers working as town lifeguards came straight from work, jumped in the water and did not get out till the bitter end. Many of LSA's coaches got into the act too, diving into the water to join their swimmers.

"Our swimmers were unbelievable", said LSA's President Mike Fallarino. "Watching our kids swim to help other kids, especially under the extreme heat, makes all the long hours and hard work running an all volunteer summer swim program worth it. Words cannot express how proud I am of our boys and girls."

By night's end, the swimmers from LSA raised over $4,000.

Susan Leisen, assistant executive director of the Ronald McDonald House applauded the swimmer's saying, "we are most appreciative of what your kids have done for our kids."

Each $25 raised pays for a one-night stay for a family at the newly renovated Ronald McDonald House located in New Hyde Park. Tracey Beach, representing Big Brothers Big Sisters, said the money raised will go toward helping underprivileged children living on the Island. LSA will present the donations to both organizations at the Annual Award Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 13.

Next up for LSA is Championship Weekend with trials on Saturday, Aug. 12. The top six swimmers from trials qualify to swim on Sunday, Aug. 13 at Championships, which will determine the 2006 Swim Team Champion. The eight LSA swim teams include Acorn, Azalea, Bluegrass, Carman, Jerusalem, Slate Lane, West and Wolcott. They will battle it out for this year's bragging rights and championship trophy. Sunday's swim meet will be held at the Jerusalem Avenue Pool and starts at 10 a.m. The Awards Ceremony and Family BBQ will be held directly after the meet at the Jerusalem Avenue Pool.