The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

LEYLAH Knowles, a sixth grade competitive swimmer, made a difference yesterday by teaming up with her school to host “Swim For the Cause” to benefit the Bahamas AIDS Foundation.

During the event, which was held at Xavier’s Lower School, Leylah swam 100 laps in honour of all the children and adolescents in the Bahamas currently affected by HIV/AIDS.

All proceeds will be donated to AIDS Foundation to assist with much-needed supplies for these children and adolescents.

“I wanted to do a community service project where I could use my swimming talent and thought that a swim-a-thon would be a great idea. After talking to my parents about it, we decided that the funds from the swim-a-thon would go to the Bahamas AIDS Foundation to help children and adolescents affected by HIV,” Leylah told Tribune Health.

“I chose swimming because I am a competitive swimmer and have participated in swim-a-thons before. I did these swim-a-thons as a member of the Bahamas‟ Goodwill Games team to raise money to help me travel to the Games. This time, instead of raising money for me, I decided to raise money to help other people.”

Nearly a hundred students signed up to join Leylah in her swim of 100 laps. Some of them included youngsters who were unable to swim the width of the pool. As no one was turned away, they participated in the “Pre-Swim-A-Thon for the Cause,” said Lesley Hutchinson, vice principal of Xavier’s Lower School.

According to the Catholic Board of Education (CBE), under which Xavier’s falls, students should not be solely focused on securing a place at a good college or getting a great job, but should also learn to be responsible, socially-minded citizens. This was also the reason why both the school’s principal and vice principal welcomed the initiative by Leylah and her parents.

Jacintha Goffe, Xavier’s Lower School principal, said the student body regularly supports various social causes.

“Maybe not in this form, but we contribute to community causes. Normally we have a dress-up day and ask the children to contribute to a particular cause, for example, raising funds for cancer. The students will be allowed to have a dress-up day where they wear pink (for the HIV/AIDS cause) and pay to dress up. All funds collected for that dress-up day will be given to the relative organisation – the Cancer Society, AIDS Foundation,” said Mrs Goffe.

Other fundraising events that take place include Zion Day, Lupus Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

“These events have made me understand that it is important to give back to the community and help people who are less fortunate,” said Leylah.

The sixth grader now wants to make “Swim for a Cause” an annual event, but whether or not it takes place at Xavier’s as she moves on to high school is up to young swimmer and philanthropist.

“Leylah is truly an example of what we are trying to instil in our students and what that end product – a Catholic graduate – should look like,” said Mrs Goffe.