World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ Set for June 14, 2011, Thousands to Participate in Record Setting Global Event

Stony Brook, NY, June 12, 2011 --(PR.com)-- On Tuesday, June 14th, 2011, thousands of kids and adults at aquatics facilities around the globe will unite to set a new global record for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL). urSwim in an effort with Holiday Inn of Stony Brook will be an official Host Location for the 2011 WLSL record-setting event, taking place at 11 am EST.

The inaugural WLSL event established the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson ever conducted in 2010 when almost 4,000 participants across 34 states, five countries and 3 continents participated to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drowning.

Tragically, drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury related death of children ages 1-14 in the US. In fact, more than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger. Research shows if a child doesn’t learn to swim before the 3rd grade they likely never will. The threat of childhood drowning is even greater around the globe.

The WLSL program works to promote drowning prevention through education by focusing the energy of thousands of participants on a clear and specific message all at the same time. In 2010, aquatic facilities, from Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon near Orlando, Florida to swim schools in Orange Country, CA, to parks & recreation centers in the Bronx, to locations in Mexico, Dubai and the USAG Humphreys in South Korea, all taught the same swimming lesson at the same time with one goal in mind – send the message that Swimming Lessons Save Lives™.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park near Orlando has been designated as the official headquarters location for the international event for the second year. Gold Medalists’ Rowdy Gaines and Janet Evans are official spokespeople for the WLSL event for the second year to help convey that loss of life from drowning can be prevented through awareness and training. As parents, both athletes feel a strong commitment to teaching children how to be safe in and around the water.

Gaines, 11-time world record holder and “voice of American swimming” for the Olympic Games, will be master of ceremonies for the WLSL event at Typhoon Lagoon. “I’m thrilled to be working with The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ for the second year to help spread the word that Swimming Lessons Save Lives™, “ said Gaines. “Learning to swim and the exposure to the water safety messages that swimming lessons offer provide a fundamental first step in drowning prevention.”

“It is so important to draw attention to this issue,” said Marina Montes, Founder of urSwim and the current Miss Long Island USA, “particularly at the beginning of the summer season. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ is a perfect way to bring the message to life for kids and parents.”

For more information on this important event and to find out how you can join the WLSL record breaking, contact Marina Montes at 631-209-POOL or via e-mail at WLSL@urswim.com or visit www.urswim.com.

About The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ was created as a platform to help aquatic facilities and the many different regional, national and international water safety and drowning prevention organizations work together to communicate the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim. For information visit www.wlsl.com.

###