On this year's International Water Safety Day, a coalition of aquatics associations is looking to break a Guinness World Record.
On May 15, the International Water Safety Foundation (IWSF) will hold a Tread-a-Thon, where individuals will tread water simultaneously at various locations. The current record for number of participants, set in 2016, is 805. This year, the IWSF is looking for at least 806 people to tread for 30 minutes.
The event is a fundraiser, with those who take part collecting donations. Of the funds raised, 25% will go to IWSF to support drowning-prevention intervention projects around the world. The remainder will go to a team or cause of the donor's choice.
For COVID safety, participants can position themselves at least 6 ft away from each other.
“To break this record on International Water Safety Day sends a resounding message that water safety education is imperative and the drowning pandemic is a preventable public health pandemic,” said Dr. Tiffany M. Quash, IWSF's director of operations. Other organizations are working with IWSF on the event, including Diversity In Aquatics, Colin’s Hope, and Counsilman-Hunsaker.
The event begins at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time. Go here for more information and to register.
