The 2nd Swimming Gala for Children and Youth with Disabilities took place on the 22nd of June 2024 at „Hotel Beskid” in Nowy Sącz and it was a huge success! This unique „project was carried out as part of the competition „Sportowe SĄDECKIE – 2024 EDITION. Honorary Patronage was taken by Tadeusz Zaremba – district Governor of the Nowy Sącz.
The event was attended by 50 children (on the autism spectrum, with motor disabilities, rare genetic diseases and intellectual disabilities). There was only one criterion for participation in the Gala: the willingness of coming into contact with water. The organizers decided that each child has a chance to participate, regardless of whether they can swim or not. The aim of the event was to encourage children to swimming activity, which is crucial in therapy of people with disabilities. Contact with water not only develops children’s motor skills, but also influences the development of social competences and promotes inclusion and acceptance of neurodiversity and disability.
The Swimming Gala for Children and Youth with Disabilities in Nowy Sącz was organized for the second time. The initiator of the event was Szczepan Dziedzic from the „You Can Swim” Swimming School, a Sports Instructor specializing in Swimming, who is also qualified to teach swimming to people with disabilities according to the principles of the Halliwick Concept. It was him who offered cooperation to the Association of „Families and Friends of People on the Autism Spectrum AUtopozytywni” a year ago. Our association took up the task and successfully completed it once again.
This year, „Animaniak – Children’s Animation” and „Hope” Volunteers joined the Gala and helped with its organization. Not only did they prepare attractions such as fun and games for the participants, but they also surprised everyone with some additional gifts and treats for children and parents. As did in the previous year- Ilona Orzeł – Councillor of the City of Nowy Sącz – volunteered as a nurse. One of the children’s mothers – Kinga Padula – also joined and helped her.
The professional care of our swimming instructors Szczepan Dziedzic and Jakub Kulig from the „Hardy Dzieciak” Swimming School ensured safety and great fun.
The 2nd Swimming Gala would not have taken place without many Donors. Among the people who supported the event financially were: Maciej Rogóż – Councillor of the City of Nowy Sącz, Grzegorz Fecko – Councillor of the City of Nowy Sącz, „Inter-Styl” Company Janusz Rusnak, „Sokół” Małopołska Culture Centre , „Animaniak – Children’s Animation”, „Hotel Beskid”, „Hotel Perła Południa”, „STS-COM” Company, „BATIM International Transport and Forwarding”, „Herbapol” Company. „Masz to w naturze” Lublin S.A. and Mgr Mors.
Our special thanks go to „Hotel Beskid”, which opened its doors to our children. An intimate swimming pool, adapted to the needs of children with disabilities, guarantees children friendly conditions. It is worth noting that this pool hosted workshops for children with ASD throughout the year: „Swimming pool workshops for children on the autism spectrum as a form of developing motor skills with elements of social training” and „Water Harmony: Swimming pool workshops for children on the autism spectrum as a form of developing motor and social skills with elements of music therapy”. These both projects „were implemented with the financial support of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship”.
At the swimming pool in the „Hotel Beskid” also took place „Workshops at the swimming pool for children on the autism spectrum” financed thanks to funds obtained from the charity cake fair at the Jan Długosz 1st High School in Nowy Sącz, at the School and Kindergarten Complex No. 8 in Nowy Sącz and at the School and Kindergarten Complex No. 7 in Nowy Sącz.
We do hope that swimming tradition among children with disabilities will be expanding, and that it will help them overcome their limits and improve their quality of life.
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