Swim boost for disabled sport

The swim, starting and ending at Matilda Bay, will raise money for the WA Disabled Sports Association (WADSA) to allow children to attend camps and participate in sports and community activities.

‘It’s really about getting kids with a disability out into the environment instead of being cooped up indoors,’ WADSA president and former Paralympian Priya Cooper said.

‘Only a tiny percentage of people with disabilities will take their sport to the highest level, so our focus is really about participation and recreation for children and people with disabilities.’

This Sunday’s event will see swimmers race over 4km solo or 1.6km solo or as a part of a team in the Swan River.

It is the oldest open-water swim in Australia.

Cooper said swimmers with disabilities will also take part in the event, with money raised through raffles, the kiosk, a sausage sizzle and competitor contributions going to WADSA.

Cooper and swim patron and world champion marathon swimmer Shelley Taylor-Smith will start the race.