Thursday night’s swim meet honored Lydia as the two teams continued their special cancer awareness swim meet started back in 2011. In the last two years it’s taken on even more meaning for the team. Lydia continued swimming and competing during the 2019 season with the cancer meet being one of her last competitions.
Even though Lydia wasn’t there in person this year, teammates carried her with her through the meet. There were signs and pictures of Lydia surrounding the number 3 at the end of the swimming pool. “Two Teams, One Hope” signs hung behind each team.
Lydia’s family donated special swimsuits for the DK-TK-Hastings teams with “Team Lydia” written on them. Swimmers all wore pink ribbons and pink swim caps. Many of Lydia’s teammates painted her name on their shoulder or leg in tribute.
At the end of the meet, the teams continued the tradition of coming together to form the cancer awareness pink ribbon symbol in the middle of the pool.
Although this year’s cancer awareness event was reduced in scale because of COVID-19, there were still T-shirts sold with a message of hope on the back reading “Support the Fighters, Admire the Survivors, Honor the Taken and Never Ever Give Up Hope.” Donations were also accepted to support Lydia’s Scholarship Fund through the Barry Community Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.