District 204 teams up to fight breast cancer

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:28PM

This wasn't your mother's swim meet, but it sure was one she would be proud

of.

For one hour Tuesday afternoon, District 204 sister schools Metea Valley,

Neuqua Valley and host Waubonsie Valley teamed up for the first time.

"Passionately Pink Hour of Power," a swimming fundraiser to support breast

cancer research and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Race times and records were replaced with solidarity of purpose as

approximately 90 girls from the three schools swam rotating 25-meter sprints

for one hour, or dived, per their specialty.

"It's really special to see three different teams, even though we're not all

synced up together, that they're all supporting the cause and in the water

for the same purpose," Neuqua Valley coach Mac Guy said. "I think

particularly for young women of this age, raising awareness of cancer and

breast cancer specifically is really crucial. It's special that these girls

can get united behind that special cause."

In fact, the divers probably had the most fun, trading in precision

techniques for competitions like "Best Cannonball" and "Longest Dive,"

results that would make the most uncompromising judge blush a supportive

shade of pink.

"It was awesome, it was a great experience," said Metea sophomore Hunter

Clarke, who took to the air with a red cape on her suit and struck a

Superman pose before hitting the water. "It was a completely different day

(than we're used to). It was for a good cause and made it more enjoyable to

do."

The event's origin came from the life of former New Trier and Carleton

College swimmer Ted Mullin, who died in 2006 from sarcoma, a rare

soft-tissue cancer.

"It's heartwarming and comforting to our family that people remember him in

this way every year," Mullin's mother, Mary Henry, said. "It keeps his

spirit alive."

In honor of Mullin, several NCAA Division III schools began participating

five years ago in an "Hour of Power" and District 204 adopted the event for

what hopes to be a long time to come.

Guy, who was a freshman at New Trier when Mullin was a senior, has seen how

cancer can affect a family, but more than that sees ways where something bad

can - in turn - positively impact a community or a population.

"It's given me a healthy dose of perspective in that high school swimming

can be very, very intense, but it's still about coming out and feeling

successful," Guy said. "We're here to ensure that these girls have a safe

and happy high school experience. My perspective has changed so that you

don't lose sight of what's important and that's enjoying each other, working

hard together, and trying not to take the little things for granted."

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