HARRISONBURG, Va., June 8, 2011 – The James Madison swimming and diving team joined forces with Dr. Tom Moran to participate in the Overcoming Barriers Project this week. Swimmers from JMU got in the water with children and adults with disabilities to help them swim.
The Overcoming Barriers Project is a grant-funded mentoring program that partners students with community members who have disabilities. It is overseen by Dr. Tom Moran of the JMU Kinesiology department. It uses physical activity and nutritional mentoring programs for people of all ages.
Rising junior Anna Susko (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury), who is interning with Overcoming Barriers this summer, said, “I think it’s great to incorporate our team into events like this. The kids look up to us as role models and I know they really love it and appreciate working with new faces. It also gives our team a chance to give back to the community, which I think is really important.”
This is the second time in the last eight months that the JMU swimming and diving team has teamed up with Dr. Moran on a community-centered project. Back in October, the Dukes worked with him on Project C.L.I.M.B (Children Learning To Improve Movement Behaviors).
“I have taken a lot away from working with Dr. Moran and the Overcoming Barriers Camps,” Susko added. “It has been a great experience being able to watch these kids learn and progress all while having fun. I think I learned just as much from the kids I worked with, if not more, than they learned from me.”
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