40,000 free swimming lessons offered in the tri-state area offered in the tri-state area

Stewie The Duck Swim School and Step Into Swim have launched a program that will provide 40,000 free swimming lessons to children in underserved communities in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

Classes will take place at public and private pools throughout the tri-state area.

This was announced at the Stewie the Duck Swim School in Norwalk by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Yale University swimming champion Ali Truwit, who lost his leg in a shark attack.

They were also joined by Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, as well as Stew and Kim Leonard, whose child drowned 35 years ago.

“Throughout my journey, swimming has given me so much hope, courage, joy and strength in what has honestly been the hardest and worst year of my life,” Truwit said . “I can’t say enough about the importance of the lifesaving work that everyone here is doing today, and I feel truly grateful to be a part of it.

According to the CDC, drowning is a leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4.