Friday, March 29, 2024

Viki Downey named Manson Kiwanis Citizen of the Year

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MANSON - Viki Downey, Manson Kiwanis Citizen of the Year, is a woman with a purpose. She has been instructing students in proper method and swim safety for 50+ years. Since 1998, Manson has been benefiting from her passion to teach swimming. For several years, only 80 individuals were signed up for lessons, and Viki became concerned about the number of rescues that took place every summer. Her dream became to provide free swim lessons to the children and adults of our community. She started a fund raising campaign, and since 2011, thousands of mostly children have been able to learn water safety for free. Last year, there were only four rescues, and they were tourists. One of the fund raising events that Viki initiated together with Judy Phelps, (owner of Hard Row to Hoe,) is the yearly occurring Swim Lake Chelan, that takes place on the first Saturday of September.

Our community greatly appreciates Viki for making our beautiful lake safe for our children to enjoy.

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