LEWES — The Sussex Family YMCA hosted its inaugural Tread/Swim-a-thon in support of water-safety efforts in July.

For three hours, participants swam laps and/or treaded water, raising more than $3,500 to provide non-swimmers attending YMCA summer camp with water acclimation and safety instruction twice per week.

“Living in an area surrounded by water, it is so important that we are teaching our young people water-safety skills,” said Aquatics Director Anna Seiffert. “The Sussex Family YMCA, its staff and volunteers are devoted to the safety of our community and work hard to provide lifesaving skills to as many youth and adults as possible each year.”

The YMCA of Delaware is committed to saving lives and educating the community about safety around water. According to the Delaware Coalition for Injury Prevention, drowning is the fifth-leading cause of accidental-injury death in the U.S. Approximately 10 unintended drowning deaths occur each day natonwide. That’s 3,650 drowning deaths every year. Two out of every 10 unintentional drownings involve children under 14.

Thanks to donor support, the Sussex Family YMCA provides more than 1,000 free swim sessions each year, designed to educate youth and families on water-safety strategies in and around open water. Donations can be made online.