LAST year the Ararat YMCA Swimathon raised more than $5,000 to provide training for staff and swimming lessons to people with disabilities in the Ararat area for no cost.
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This year the centre has set the bar even higher and is looking to raise $10,000.
Lachie Mullin is one of four 2015 Ararat YMCA Swimathon ambassadors.
Young Lachie has down syndrome. His condition means he has poor muscle tone making physical activity more tiring.
He also suffers from learning delays, which means he will need to practise the same task more often than other children.
The Ararat YMCA has sponsored Lachie to have private swimming lessons and during that time he has communicated much better with his teachers as they spend more time with him.
They have adapted the lessons to meet his needs and trialled different strategies to find out what works best.
Like any child, Lachie has days when he is uncooperative or feeling lazy. With the one to one lessons his teacher can work around those issues and determine 'tricks' for getting him to participate.
Lachie has developed vital skills using both his arms and legs and his progress has been evident to everyone involved. He loves the pool and has benefited from fantastic teachers.
Ararat YMCA will be one of 60 pools across Australia to host the 2015 YMCA Swimathon on Sunday, March 1 from 11am-12am
The YMCA Swimathon encourages people of all ages and abilities to splash out for a great cause, because too often those in our community with disabilities are missing out on the chance to enjoy safe access to water and swimming, due to a lack of access to swimming lessons, pools and specialists.
To register for this year's event visit the website, www.ymcaswimathon.org.au/event/ymca-swimathon.