The Shadow
LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) — Three dedicated swimmers reached the exclusive 100-Mile Swim Club during 2024 at the Alleghany Highlands YMCA.
John Snyder leads the group, joining the 100-Mile Swim Club for a ninth consecutive year. Snyder, 82, first swam 100 miles back in 2016 and has eclipsed that mark every year since then. Other members of the 100-Mile Swim Club in 2024 include Sandra McHenry and Blenda Duckworth.
“Our Y is so proud of John, Blenda and Sandra for this achievement,” said Alleghany Highlands YMCA CEO Bobbie Wagner. “We congratulate them all on swimming 100 miles in 2024. We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy our aquatics center. Stop by for a tour or call us to find out more.”
Between September 1 and December 31, the Alleghany Highlands YMCA Healthy Highlands Program issued a 50- mile swim challenge. Duckworth, McHenry and Cindy Scully accepted this challenge and reached the 50-mile plateau during that four-month timeframe.
Swimming is a full-body, low-impact exercise that improves cardiovascular health, builds strength and tones muscle. It’s gentle on joints, making it ideal for all ages and those with mobility issues or injuries. Swimming also boosts mental well-being by reducing stress, enhancing mood and promoting better sleep.
No one recognizes the importance of swimming more than McHenry, who also serves as the Healthy Highlands Program director.
“I started swimming as a form of exercise in 2023 and now swim several times a week,” she said. “After undergoing back surgery in 2017, I found that activities like walking and cycling were more challenging. However, swimming has proven to be the perfect workout for me.”
The Alleghany Highlands YMCA offers a wide variety of aquatics activities and swimming opportunities. For more information, contact YMCA operations director Thomas Smals at (540) 862-8679. For more general information on the Alleghany Highlands YMCA, call (540) 962-9622.
