High School Swim Team’s Heartfelt Effort Raises Funds for Beloved Custodian
In Richardson, Texas, a heartwarming initiative by a high school swim team has brought together a community to support a valued member. The Mustangs swim team at J.J. Pearce High School successfully raised close to $21,000 to assist their school custodian, Van Le, who faced financial challenges following an extended hospital stay.
Van Le, a cherished custodian at the school, found himself in a difficult situation after his health issues kept him from work for several months. The financial burden of medical bills and living expenses prompted the school’s swim team to take action.
Samantha Sloan, a freshman and member of the Mustangs swim team, spearheaded the fundraising event. “I was thinking how we could incorporate swimming with helping this man, and a swim-a-thon just, like, immediately popped into my mind,” she explained.
The sense of community and solidarity among the team members was palpable. Sophia Nidam, another team member, described the initiative as a collective effort. “Our swim team is kind of just, like, a big family. So when we all, like, heard about the story, when Coach texted us, all of the – when we all read it, we were like, we have to do this. And when one of us, like, needs something, we all band together to help them,” she said.
Van Le, who immigrated from Vietnam and speaks limited English, has been a familiar and friendly presence at the school. Head Coach Eric Ewing recounted his interactions with Le, saying, “He would say, hi, Teacher, or, good morning, Teacher. And then we just sort of did this every time, even to the point where sometimes I would give him a hug or he would give me a hug.”
The swim-a-thon was an energetic affair, with Coach Ewing and the team ensuring a lively atmosphere. “We just turned the music up really loud in the…Natatorium, played a lot of uplifting music. Samantha is also a cheerleader, and she made signs. And she was cheering, and we had other parents there cheering and other students there cheering. So it was a pretty upbeat moment,” Ewing added.
The event involved swimming a challenging 4,000 meters, but as Nidam noted, the purpose behind the effort made the distance seem shorter. “Honestly, swimming it was just like – you had such a purpose that it didn’t really feel that long,” she expressed.
In addition to the funds raised, the team and community members also provided Van Le with a new bicycle and a car, donated by an alumnus. Van Le expressed his gratitude, stating to CBS News affiliate KTVT, “This school is my future and my life.”
The contributions from the school’s swim team and community have made a significant impact on Van Le’s life, helping him plan for a brighter future.
