RED CROSS ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION AT ANNUAL SWIM A CROSS SATURDAY

To finish National Red Cross month with a splash, the Cape Girardeau unit will host its annual Swim A Cross Saturday at the Cape Central Pool.

Mary Burton, coordinator of the event for the Red Cross, hopes to get as many people as possible to participate this year. "We really need to raise more money in donations," Burton said. "We're spending the money as quickly as we collect it."

To participate, swimmers must pick up a pledge form from the Red Cross office at 2610 Gerhardt (behind Cape Toyota). Next, the participant needs to solicit pledges for every lap he or she swims.

Then comes the fun part. At 9 a.m. Saturday, the pool will open for the participants to swim for as long as they like.

"There's one man who comes every year," Burton said. "He gets there before everyone else. He waits until we open the pool and then he swims for four hours straight."

For those who are not the swimming sort, but would like to participate anyway, the Red Cross will give credit to persons who walk laps around the pool during the event.

After swimming or walking their limit, people will then go out and collect from those who pledged.

Also on Saturday, the Red Cross will host a water carnival of sorts for children in attendance.

"We're going to have things like water basketball, kickboard races, canoe races, a canoe obstacle course and let little kids try and throw a coin in a cup at the bottom of the pool," Burton said. "It should be an enjoyable event for the whole family."

Children will win certificates redeemable for prizes after the fair.

The water carnival will be held synonymously with lap swimming. All events will end at 1 p.m.

Several awards will be given to the participants in the Swim A Cross. The awards have been largely donated from local businesses and include tickets to Six Flags in St. Louis, tickets to a Cardinals baseball game this summer, dinner for two at the Cracker Barrel in Cape Girardeau, gift certificates from JCPenney, tickets to the St. Louis Symphony at the Show Me Center, and dinner for two at the Cedar Street Restaurant.

People of all ages are encouraged to participate. For more information call the Cape Girardeau Red Cross office at 335-9471.