West Columbia, SC (WLTX) - October is known for Breast Cancer Awareness, and with the month fast approaching, many people around the Midlands are doing all they can to raise money for cancer research.
Students on the Brookland-Cayce High School swim team are raising money in a unique way -- by cashing in on their breaststrokes.
"They are working really hard," said coach Sarah Lowery.
The students spent their afternoon in the pool.
"It looks like they are going to be swimming close to 40,000 meters today," said Lowery.
Lowery isn't making her team practice, they are swimming voluntarily, to raise money for cancer research.
"We have swimmers that are swimming for their teachers, their aunts, grandparents and this really hits home."
Seventh grader Tripp Pridgen swam for Amy Stansell who is a cancer survivor.
"To know that Tripp came up with this on his own to swim for me, fills my heart with so much joy, he is a special boy and I love him," said Stansell.
For every five dollars a student raised, they had to swim 100 meters.
"I actually raised $2,040 so that means I had to swim 4,175 meters," said Pridgen.
Tripp did have some help with all those laps.
"The coaches stopped and I told them, Tripp hasn't stopped so you need to keep going" said Stansell.
He says he is happy that he could help raise money to find a cure. For every donation, a student had to put a pink duck in the bucket.
"I keep telling them one duck is one life saved, so for as many ducks that they can put in that bucket that's another life you are saving," said Stansell.
Lowery says everyone is affected in some way from cancer, and she is happy that her students can help change that.
"This is a cause that men, women, middle school students, high school students, this is something that everyone can understand and get behind," said Lowery.