High school swim teams from across the region are gearing up for the 14th Annual Swim to a Wish event, a 100-mile relay fundraiser benefiting Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. The event will begin Friday, February 27 at 4:15 PM and continue through Sunday, March 1, 2026, hosted once again by Campus High School.

What began in 2013 as a deeply personal project for Campus High School swim coach Kelly Kennedy has grown into a powerful community tradition. After Kennedy’s daughter received a wish during her battle with cancer, he launched Swim to a Wish as a way to give back to the organization that brought his family hope. Fourteen years later, the event has raised more than $333,000 to help grant wishes for local children.

“Swim to a Wish started as a way for my family to say ‘thank you’ for the hope Make-A-Wish gave us during our hardest days,” said Kelly Kennedy. “Fourteen years later, watching these students give their time, energy, and hearts to help other kids facing critical illnesses reminds me why this event matters so much. Every mile we swim is a reminder that we can lift others up, and that this community is at its best when we come together for something bigger than ourselves.”

The relay will begin on Friday, February 27 at 4:15 PM and will continue until the final team completes their 100 miles, which is expected to happen the afternoon of Sunday, March 1.

Participants will swim a 100-mile relay, with each leg of the relay being 1 mile long, and each swimmer swimming 20 times. The relay will continue throughout the weekend. Swimmers can receive flat donations, or they can get donations per mile.

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How to Get Involved:

Those interested in participating or donating to Swim to a Wish can contact Coach Kelly Kennedy at kkennedy@usd261.com or 316-200-0120. All donations go directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri & Kansas to help grant wishes to local children battling critical illnesses. To donate to the cause, please visit the Swim to a Wish donation page or click the button below.

Event Details:

• Dates: February 27 to March 1, 2026
• Time: Starting at 4:15 PM on February 27
• Location: Glenn Crum Natatorium, Campus High School, Wichita, Kansas

Additional info:

What is “Swim to a Wish”?: In short, 5 swim team members get together and swim a 100-mile relay with each leg of the relay being 1 mile long, each swimmer swims 20 times. The relay is continuous throughout the weekend. Swimmers can receive flat donations, or they can get donations per mile.

History: In 2013 the Campus High School (Wichita, KS) Boys swimmers wanted to do a charity fundraiser and partnered with the Make-A-Wish® Foundation. With a quick turnaround, Swim to a Wish raised over $5,700.00. In 2014, the team was challenged by an anonymous donor that would match up to $6,000.00. The team made their goal and donated over $12,000.00 to Make-A-Wish. To date, this event has raised over $333,000.00 for our local Make-A-Wish chapter. With your help this event can continue to grow, granting even more life-changing wishes to local children battling critical illnesses.

How it works: Five swimmers will swim a 100-mile relay. Each leg of the relay is 71 lengths of a 25-yard pool. When the person in the water touches length 71, the next leg starts at the opposite end of the pool. The first 19 miles for each swimmer will be 71 lengths which are just a little over 1 mile. The last mile for each swimmer will be 59 lengths. There is always at least one swimmer in the water per team.