Press Release courtesy of BYU Athletics
Members of the BYU’s swim and dive team headed to Puerto Rico, Wednesday Dec. 27, for its winter training camp but is also spending time helping the community after Hurricane Maria destroyed most of the country earlier this fall.
“We have connected with Light Up Puerto Rico to build roofs and hand out solar lights,” BYU head coach John Brooks said. “This is a training trip but we will help where there is help needed.”
Courtesy of BYU Athletics
The non-governmental organization’s mission is to “help rebuild Puerto Rico and send what’s needed most – solar-powered generators and light systems, water filtration systems, tent shelters and other supplies to rebuild homes,” according to its Facebook page.
Instead of training or relaxing at the beach the team spent their Saturday helping pass out water filtration systems to homes without clean water and cleaning up debris from homes.
Courtesy of BYU Athletics
In November, 40 volunteers from the Utah Governor’s Office and Light Up Puerto Rico traveled and delivered supplies purchased with donations through You Caring. Light up Puerto Rico has also partnered with Tifie Humanitarian, Vivant Solar and many companies. The BYU swim team will continue to help out Light Up Puerto Rico by handing out supplies among other service products for residents of Puerto Rico.
The Cougars will spend most of their trip training at Mayaguez University of Puerto Rico at the RUM Natatorium. The facility has three pools, including a 50-meter Olympic pool, a 25-by-25-meter warm-up pool and a 25-by-35-meter diving pool. BYU last traveled to Puerto Rico in 2013 for winter training camp and has traveled to San Diego in more recent years.
Courtesy of BYU Athletics
The swim and dive team returns to the United States on Jan. 5, 2018. The Cougars will then compete at Grand Canyon University that coming weekend, Jan. 13, for their first Mountain Pacific Sport Federation conference meet of the 2017-2018 season.
Here is more details of the BYU training trip and details on their decision to travel to PR.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865694679/Why-the-BYU-swimming-team-went-to-Puerto-Rico-while-other-teams-stayed-home.html
The situation in Puerto Rico is really a shame for the White House and USA overall. They party amongst billionaires and financial predators at Mar-a-Lago while around half of the population is still without power and many people still without clean water 3 months after the hurricane. And the media talks very little about Puerto Rico. Outrageous.
Like I said in an earlier post to you: You need to take this stuff (& I’m being kind using this term) elsewhere. No need to “ Trump bash” here. Serves no purpose. My advice to you is to go outside & “scream” to release the hatred that is spewing from you regarding this President. Let’s try to be kind to each other no matter our political differences!
This is great. Several colleges spend their winter training breaks in Puerto Rico and hopefully they are doing similar things. I know that the University of Mary Washington flies out in the next couple of days and they have also made a commitment to give back during the training trip.
No other university teams visited; the other 16 cancelled their trips. BYU was the only school that made the trip to train at UPRM pool.
That is a shame. Coach Abby Brethauer (UMW) made a very early commitment that she wanted to be able to still take the team to PR. They fly out on the 1/3 and will be staying and training in Ponce. Like BYU, they have some community service on their schedule.
This is great news. Coach Abby sounds like a great coach and leader. All the best to her and the team and thanks for helping PR in their recovery.
Way to go team. Servant leadership is what we need more of. Thank you for setting this example.
#teamworkmakesthedreamwork