Page 9 - BOL Aug20 Edition

Swimming

For The

Stars

Earlier this year as most students were easing into the new Thankfully with the unwavering support of her family, swim
school year, 11-year old, Alia Shaw, was swimming laps to raise coach and teachers, Alia pushed through the exhaustion and
money for the Starlight Foundation. injury to eventually achieve her goal. Alia’s family were extremely
proud of her mammoth achievement though everyone was
Alia, a Grade Six student from Mango Hill State School, pledged relieved to have a bit of a break from the pool.
to raise much needed funds for the Starlight Foundation, by
partaking in the annual Starlight Superswim Challenge. Not only did Alia achieve her lofty goal of swimming 150km over
30 days, she also smashed her fundraising goal of $1,000, by
The Starlight Super Swim is a 30-day swim challenge where raising over $1,200. ‘I thought I wasn’t going to get $1,000,’ said
registered participants swim either solo or as part of a team to Alia, ‘but I raised $1,272,’ which is a huge achievement and one
reach their predetermined swimming and fundraising goal. Alia and her parents are very proud of. Whilst Alia hasn’t had to
Funds raised from the event go toward helping sick children and use the Starlight Foundation herself, she knows of children from
their families via the Starlight Children’s Foundation. her school that have, which gave her that extra special incentive
to complete the challenge.
Initially Alia thought she would start with a more modest goal,
aiming to swim 90km in 30 days, but with encouragement from The future for Alia is looking bright and will most definitely
her swim coach, she upped the ante and set the momentous include swimming. Alia has her sights set on another significant
challenge of swimming 150km in 30 days. challenge in the form of the MS 24 Hour Mega Swim. When
asked if the Commonwealth Games are in her sights, a modest
Embarking on such a colossal challenge in the pool required a lot Alia casually responded ‘yeah, maybe.’
of hard work and dedication, from both Alia and her supportive
family. Alia trained six days a week with Grace Swimming at
Rothwell, making up the extra laps at the Deception Bay Aquatic
and Fitness Centre, swimming at least 5km a day, in order to
achieve her goal.

During the challenge most days for Alia began at the pool at
5.30am, then heading to school, and back to the pool again from
4.45pm to dinner time. ‘I was very exhausted,’ said Alia, ‘it was
hard juggling flute, homework, swimming and everything.’

As if swimming 150km over a month wasn’t enough, Alia did so
whilst carrying an injury. ‘She had a shoulder injury at the time,’
said Leah, Alia’s mother, ‘she was at physio twice a week and was
strapped up. She wasn’t allowed to do butterfly,’ which meant
Alia completed most of the challenge swimming freestyle and
backstroke.
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