A local aquatics center recently challenged its membership and the community at large to a 20-mile swim, for which over 20 people participated.

Hildred T. Moore Aquatics Center in Washington recently held its Swim to Greenville Challenge, a call to the community to swim a distance of 20 miles. The distance equals 35,200 yards, about 1,408 laps at the center’s 25-yard swimming pool. Participants were given a one-month period — Sept. 16 to Oct. 16 — to swim the distance and could come in at any time the center was open to do the laps, according to aquatics supervisor Dalace Inman.

Inman said she got the idea from a group at N.C. State University, who was doing a Swim to Wilmington Challenge. With the idea, Inman decided to challenge the local community to a realistic feat and decided the distance to Greenville was an attainable challenge, she said.

“Really, (the challenge) was about community engagement and physical fitness, two of the primary missions of the aquatics center,” Inman said.

Of the more than 20 participants, only about three didn’t complete the challenge, Inman said. Participants who did complete the challenge were given a Swim to Greenville swimming cap. The center hopes to host the challenge annually to engage its membership more, as well as generate interest in the center amongst community members, Inman said.

Participant Michael Beachler, who has been a swimmer for decades, said part of the reason he and his family decided to relocate to Washington was the existence of the center.

“(The challenge) is a wonderful opportunity to do something in the community that really shows that there is kind of a new spirit at the pool,” Beachler said. “You get to know some of the other swimmers a little bit better, and it keeps you fit. It was a wonderful little event, put on by the pool. The management is stepping up and trying to breathe more life and get more bodies into the pool. The fact that a beautiful little town like Washington had the pool was a big bonus (in the decision to move here).”

The center opened in 2000, thanks to a Parks and Recreation trust fund grant and money donated by F. Ray Moore, according to Inman.

The Hildred T. Moore Aquatics Center is located at 101 Airport Road, Washington. For more information, visit the center on Facebook.com at https://www.facebook.com/MAFCWashingtonNC/.