Water polo: University smashes charity goal

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The University water polo team isn’t interested in new gear for itself. No, the Trojans have a fund raiser scheduled for Saturday that will benefit the San Diego-based Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Their fund-raising goal was $3,000. Late Thursday afternoon, they had committed donations of $6,948 since beginning the project at the end of August. Taylor Curtis alone has raised $1,350 after having committed to raising only $150.

The team will swim 100x100s beginning at 9 a.m. But about 8 a.m., festivities will begin on the University swim deck with a speech by Joe McCarthy, a quadriplegic swimmer (disability class S4) who competed in the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games. McCarthy, see YouTube video below, is the only quadriplegic to complete the 5K Gatorman swim at La Jolla Cove.

This is a fantastic example of young people’s excellence, and using their talents -- even if it’s just swimming -- to benefit others. The CAF raises money for challenged athletes, and since 1994 has raised more than $11 million, with 82 cents of every dollar going toward athletes from all 50 states and a dozen countries. Most of its resources, including its offices, were destroyed in a recent fire. Info about that is also at the CAF website.

- Martin Henderson