The grassroots group known as 100 Men Who Give a Damn in Cochrane rallied together and donated enough funds to cover equipment for the upcoming modified adaptive swim program being offered at Jayman Built Aquatic Centre.

This new swim program will be offered at various times and benefit children with special needs in a smaller student to teacher ratio environment.

Serge Tessier a member of 100 Men Who Give a Damn as well as the owner of Cochrane Sport Physio shares when he learned about the new program being offered at the pool he thought what a great opportunity for the 100 Men to get behind and support. "It was a perfect fit. What I have noticed in the two and half years that I have been part of the 100 Men is they like to donate locally, they like to donate to children and have a soft spot for helping those with disabilities. It hit all the criteria and the reason we all sit down to meet."

Ben Marasco, Manager of the Jayman Built Aquatic Centre says the pool got the equipment in late summer and is looking forward to launching the program on September 24th. "The program will run either Monday/Wednesday's, Tuesday/Thursday's and Saturday's so very similar to swim lessons but it's really special in comparison to regular lessons. It's a small group atmosphere with only a couple kids and for anyone with any sort of disability, limitation in mobility, sensory issues or just those that could not participate in regular lessons they can still learn the valuable life skill of learning how to swim, water safety messaging and still participate with their peers."

To run the program, Marasco says the centre did need to purchase specialty equipment and thanks to the generosity of the 100 Men they were able to cover a great deal of the costs associated. "Whether it's different mobility aids or if kids need to see pictures much bigger if they have ocular challenges so we have been able to purchase quite a bit of specialty equipment, so this equipment will be reserved and just used for our adapted swim lessons. These different aids and toys are interactive but geared towards them."

While other pools offer a program like this, Cochrane's programming will be quite unique. "Between now and Christmas we are offering probably close to 30 sessions. In the Northwest area, very few offer a program like this and some only offer one or two lessons for their entire season nothing on the scale like we're doing. We are really, really proud to have this here locally in Cochrane."

Marasco couldn't thank Tessier and the 100 Men enough for the funds and plans to attend their next meeting to share the impact. "You guys will able to come to the pool, see the lessons going on and put a smile on our face and know that that kid was able to have that equipment because of me. What a special and cool experience for you guys."

If you don't know much about the 100 groups in Cochrane, Tessier explains the concept behind it. "It's such a neat idea. Guys show up, and we have a beer, we learn about three charities, there's a vote, majority rules and a charity walks away with cash in hand. There's no bureaucracy, and it doesn't go into a bank account where 10% is held...it's like here's the money it's yours."

Donating $100 each, Tessier would love to see the group reach one hundred members so they could give $10,000 per quarterly meeting. "What's neat is the demographic sitting in that room. We've got from 30-year-olds to well into senior years, from ranchers to suits to blue collars. Guys that don't have enough time for one reason or another to really give to a charity in time and effort but once a quarter can meet over a beer, learn about three local charities and leave feeling like they have donated to a great cause."

If you would like to join the men, their next meeting will be held at Half Hitch Brewing Company at 7 pm on Thursday, September 20 and you can learn more HERE or if you have questions about the new modified, adapted program being offered at the pool, email Marasco at ben.marasco@slssportscentre.com