Hannaford Swim-a-thon Sunday For Children Who Lost Parent Returns Sunday

After a year's break, the annual Kevin J. Hannaford, Sr. Foundation's Swim-a-thon is back on Sunday at the Bernardsville Community Pool to raise funds for educational scholarships for area children who have lost a parent.

The foundation, and the all-day event that starts at 8 a.m., both honor Hannaford, a Basking Ridge resident who worked as a broker at Cantor Fitzgerald at the World Trade Center in New York City and lost his life during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Supporters are asked come out and swim some laps for a great cause and enjoy a fun day at the pool between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A minimum donation of $20 is asked of each swimmer or $50 per family. 

Local swimmers will relay to collectively swim the distance from Bernardsville to the World Trade Center and back at the pool in Bernardsville, located off Seney Drive across from the Bedwell Elementary School.

The swim-a-thon was started in 2006. Each year, it is attended by family and friends of the Hannaford family, and others, many from the Somerset Hills, but also from Morris County and even from down the Shore, where Hannaford had worked as a lifeguard, said volunteer Katie Straub from Basking Ridge.

Straub said the event is a major fundraiser for the Hannaford Foundation, founded by his widow, Eileen Hannaford, who lives in Basking Ridge with the couple's sons.

Hannaford was a broker for Cantor Fitzgerald and his family started the fund after his death on September 11, 2001 as a way to give back after many family, friends and strangers were so generous to his wife Eileen and his sons, Patrick and Kevin, Jr., born after his father's death.

Straub said that last year's event could not be held because the foundation was told it needed insurance to hold the swim-a-thon, which she said has been acquired for this year. The event usually draws between 125 and 150 swimmers, and the organizers are hoping for an especially good turnout to cover the cost of insurance, she added.

Swimmers of all ages can swim as little or as much as they want. Prizes, including a $500 gift card, will be given away in a raffle, she said.

Free food for participants and spectators also is donated by area vendors, Straub said.  

The event is coordinated by local high school students, including Straub's son, Aaron Schlemovitz, who will be a junior this fall at Ridge High School. 

Kathryn Cummings, a rising senior at Bernards High School, and Mary Laurita, who will be a freshman at West Morris Mendham High School, also are chairing the event, Straub said.

Straub said the chairs each year have been students. "It's kind of nice and it just keeps on being passed to different swimmers." 

More information about Hannaford and the found started in his honor is online at  www.kevinhannaford.org. Information on registering for the swim-a-thon or donating to the fund can also be found on the website. 

Just show up on day of event

However, Straub said most people just show up at the event, and register at that time.