Holiday swim raises funds for charity
Nearly 50 people participated in the Christmas Day Swim at Mattapoisett Town Beach. Photo source: Debbi Dyson
Participants raised about $1,5000 for Helping Hands and Hooves
Each swimmer recieved a long-sleeve T-shirt.
Families — and dogs — attended the swim.
Nearly 50 people participated in the Christmas Day Swim at Mattapoisett Town Beach. Photo source: Debbi Dyson
Participants raised about $1,5000 for Helping Hands and Hooves
Each swimmer recieved a long-sleeve T-shirt.
Families — and dogs — attended the swim.
MATTAPOISETT — A group of swimmers braved the icy waters of Mattapoisett Harbor to raise funds for an area nonprofit. Helping Hands and Hooves.
About 45 people attended Helping Hands and Hooves’ 22nd annual Christmas Daw Swim at Mattapoisett Town Beach, and they raised about $1,500.
Julie Craig, one of the co-founders of Helping Hands and Hooves, runs the organization alongside fellow co-founder Debbi Dyson. The two offer therapeutic horseback riding lessons, free of charge, for adults with developmental disabilities.
Craig said most of the funds they raised this year will go towards those lessons, along with buying new equipment for the riders they take to the Special Olympics each year.
She said this year’s swim was a success, with nearly 50 swimmans and about as many spectators.
“It really touches me — for people to get out on Christmas morning, go plunge in freezing cold water, it means a lot, and it's a great act of kindness and show of support for what we do,” Craig said.
She said the group was lucky to swim at high tide, so they didn’t have to run as far before hiting the water.
Many of the attendees, she said, return each year. Some of them have even made it a family tradition.
“Some of them are entire families, and then some are just individuals that come out,” Craig said. “You get all ages. It's nice to see the young kids and the older people as well.”
For more information about the nonprofit, visit https://helpinghandsandhooves.org.
