The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Children swim, play with Santa at Mercy Health event
“We’re unique because Santa’s really swimming and there’s a little more connection time with the kids rather than just eating,” he said. “He’s playing with them in the water ... ”
— Ryan Ladd, facility coordinator
Santa took a hiatus from the frigid weather up in the North Pole to spend some time with the children of Lorain County at Mercy Health Amherst HealthPlex’s, 47160 Hollstein Drive in Amherst, annual Swim with Santa event on Dec. 9.
For the fourth year, the event has not only allowed children to swim with Santa, but also provided an opportunity for them to decorate and eat cookies, draw and color, write letters to the man himself and play bingo and a life-sized version of Candy Land.
“It’s continuously been growing,” said facility coordinator Ryan Ladd. “We’ve continued to add just a little bit to the program each year.”
Ladd said about 50 families participate in the event each year.
Swimming with Santa has proven to be a unique and popular event for the facility, Ladd said.
“We’re unique because Santa’s really swimming and there’s a little more connection time with the kids rather than just eating,” he said.
“He’s playing with them in the water ... That’s what we try to get accomplished. Any event we have here, it’s recreating or moving and being active.”
Sarah Davis, 32, of Lorain said it was her family’s first time at the event, although they frequent the HealthPlex often during the winter to swim.
“The kids are excited to be out in the water,” she said.
Becky Dickson, 47, of Lorain also frequents the facility with her son Landon to swim every Sunday.
“I can imagine with the warm water that it’s a nice change for Santa with how cold it is in the North Pole,” she said.