Contact:
Melonie Welsh, (402) 502-4117 mwelsh@nufoundation.org,
Tom Thompson, (402) 502-4116 tthompson@nufoundation.org
Betsy Berentson (402) 502-4115 bberentson@nufoundation.org
Big Splash brings swimmers of all abilities together
Sam Butalla never expected to compete in a swim meet.
The seven-year-old from Lincoln was diagnosed with a fatal degenerative disease, peroxisomal biogenesis disorder, when he was five months old.
Sam is blind, hears through the use of a cochlear implant and has a number of other developmental delays. He also was recently diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Despite his numerous medical conditions, Sam continues to persevere. And thanks to a new event, he will have the chance to compete in his first swim meet.
“Big Splash” is the first recreational and competitive swimming fundraiser that will bring swimmers of all abilities together to support the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI).
The two-day event will take place Aug. 28 and 29 throughout Omaha and in Lincoln.
“We’ve always wished there would be some way for Sam to participate in an organized athletic event, especially an aquatic one,” said his mother, Shannon Butalla. “Swimming has been the avenue for Sam to understand his world, and we attribute much of his developmental growth and success to the therapeutic benefits he’s received from water activities.
Proceeds from the Big Splash will enhance and expand specialized services and programs MMI provides to more than 10,000 individuals with diverse disabilities and genetic disorders and their families each year.
“Our goal is to help each person we serve reach their full potential,” said Mike Leibowitz, Ph.D., director of MMI. “Through the Big Splash every member of the community can participate in a fun event while supporting MMI’s efforts to help children and adults with disabilities achieve meaningful accomplishments in their lives.”
Organizers of the family-friendly event also hope the Big Splash will champion advocacy and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
“We believe the Big Splash has the potential to be successful at many levels,” said Melonie Welsh, director of development for MMI at the University of Nebraska Foundation. “We hope to promote advocacy for individuals with disabilities, demonstrate inclusion of children of all abilities, inform the public of services available in their community and ultimately enrich and expand programs and services available at MMI.”
With the support of one of the event’s major sponsors, Mutual of Omaha, three-time Olympic gold medalist Josh Davis will be on hand at Saturday’s events. Event organizers will randomly select participants at each event to meet Davis at a special culmination event that evening.
“Because Mutual is an official sponsor of USA swimming, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to have Josh Davis come to Omaha to lend his enthusiastic, motivational personality to all the activities,” said John Hildenbiddle, senior vice president of brand management and marketing at Mutual of Omaha. “We hope interacting with Josh will be a very special highlight for the participants.”
Other event sponsors include the Omaha World-Herald, Cassling, UNMC, Farmer’s Mutual Insurance of Nebraska, Continuum Worldwide, Inc. and Metro Credit Union.
For more information and to register or volunteer for events, visit www.mmibigsplash.org. The registration deadline is Aug. 20.
Events
Friday, Aug. 28
Swim and Safety Water Carnival
6-9 p.m. – Brownell Talbot school
• This event includes swimming lessons, a family swim, water safety exhibits and challenging activities designed to test and promote water safety. Families also can take underwater photos and watch a “dive-in” movie.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Competitive Youth Meets
8-11 a.m. – Westside High School and Millard South (Omaha)
Devaney Center (Lincoln)
• Meets consist of four events: 25 yards of each stroke for 10-year-olds and younger, and 50 yards of each stroke for 11-18-year-olds.
Corporate & Adult Swim Challenge
8-11 a.m. – University of Nebraska at Omaha (HPER building)
•Four-person teams can participate in a 200-yd medley relay and/or a 200-yd free style relay races. Individual 100 and 200-yd freestyle events also will be offered. All levels of competitors are encouraged to participate.
Non-Traditional Swimmer Challenge
8-11 a.m. – College of St. Mary (Lied Center)
•An event designed specifically for participants with developmental and physical challenges who wish to participate in an organized swim competition with swimmers of like abilities. Appropriate supervision and assistance will be offered. Events will consist of three individual events: 50-yd freestyle, 25-yd freestyle and 25-yd backstroke, with buddy relays to follow.
Big Splash Swim & Splash
noon -2 p.m. -Omaha area swimming pools
•Omaha area pools will devote lanes for two hours of relays and swimming events. Swimmers of all ages and abilities will keep the water turning for and with the children and adults who have benefited from MMI’s services.
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