Swim Team to Support Coach in Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

A local youth swim league will support their coach this Saturday for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer after raising more than $19,000 for breast cancer research and awareness over the last few months.

“There are at least three kids who raised more then a thousand dollars each,” said Coach Patty Friedman. “Sometimes I’m really dumbfounded at all the money that they raised.”

The Shark Tank Racing Squad is made up of 37 boys and girls ages 8 to 22 who live in Fairfax Station and the surrounding area. Their initial goal was to raise $7,000. The team even drew the attention of Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, who recently stopped by the gym and presented the team with a plaque acknowledging their efforts.

“It was a really big deal for the kids,” Friedman said.

The culmination of the efforts, , comes to a peak this weekend.

The team will meet Saturday morning at a in Lorton at 5 a.m. to kick off the day. The manager is opening the shop earlier for the team, knowing that he is supporting the cause. They will also be stopping by for breakfast at the in Woodbridge before heading into D.C. 

“There are 56 parents and kids all riding down into D.C. for the ceremony with me and it’s a lot of fun,” Friedman said.

Friedman will engage in the 39-mile walk, and the team will be waiting to greet her as she passes by one of the stops. They will also be engaging with the others who are participating in the walk, many of whom are walking for family members who were afflicted with cancer.

“It’s great for the kids,” Friedman said. “They see people who are crying, and they see people who are laughing…. You never fail to be moved beyond words with things that you see.“

Last year, Friedman saw a man walking the race on crutches with the words “for my wife” on his shirt.

“The message is we can all do something,” Friedman said. “I never run out of energy for it. I’m very, very lucky.”

Team Shark Tank has their own fundraising page for online donations and information.