The Duncan Stingrays stepped up for their coach and their community.
When Leanne Sirup, the longtime head coach of the swim team, was invited to attend the World Swimming Championships in Windsor this month as part of a coach mentoring program, members of the team, led by Stingray Robyn Zinkan, got together and bagged groceries at Superstore last Saturday to raise funds to help her get to the event.
The World Swimming Championships are the second-highest level of the sport, surpassed only by the World Aquatic Championships. This year’s World Swimming Championships will take place in Windsor on Dec. 6-11, and Sirup has been invited to observe and be mentored by the best coaches in Canada. Her swimmers wanted to make sure she didn’t miss the opportunity.
They raised more than $700 for their coach, and also decided to donate $100 of the proceeds to help Amber Lynn Ferguson, the young girl who was struck by a van in a Duncan crosswalk on Nov. 15, recover from her injuries, although there is no direct connection between the swim club and Amber Lynn.
Inspired by the Stingrays, Superstore staff took up a collection and chipped in $200 to help Amber Lynn as well.