Photo courtesy Pool People Limited

Patricia McMullen of the Royal Lifesaving Society presents the Darnell Cup to Paul Denstedt, PPL president (right), and Tim Brown (centre), manager of PPL's lifeguard and recreation division.

For the second year in a row, the Ontario branch of the Royal Lifesaving Society of Canada has awarded the Darnell Cup to Pool People Limited (PPL), a commercial pool and recreation facility staffing and service provider in Mississauga, Ont.

The award recognizes the affiliate member who raises the most money for the organization's Swim-to-Survive program through fundraising events.

To raise funds, PPL lifeguards and several office and service staff each raised pledges from family, friends and suppliers to support their one-mile swim against the clock—a company ‘swim-a-thon' that was originally initiated more than 30 years ago by the company's founder and CEO, Dale Papke. Over the years, PPL has raised more than $100,000 for various charities. Two years ago, Papke decided to focus on the Swim-to-Survive program, which teaches water safety and basic skills in classrooms and at local community pools to grade 3 students across the province.

According to Papke, who competes in the swim each year, PPL's 2008 donation of $12,000 allowed more than 300 extra children to participate in the program. This year's donation will increase the number to 375.