Indy Laps for Hope Aquathon

Help Us Fight Cancer, One Lap at a Time

Swim, give, & Support cancer research in our community

Donate Today

Become a Sponsor

About the event

The Indy Laps for Hope Aquathon is a community swim fundraiser benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Swimmers of all levels participate by completing laps in the pool to raise money for cancer research—whether individually, with a team, or alongside fellow community members.

This event is part of Senior Health & Fitness Month, celebrating wellness, resilience, and community connection in Indianapolis.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Indianapolis Healthplex Pool

Who: Open to all swimmers

Format:

Swim individually or with a team

Maximum 2 swimmers per lane

Choose your distance + time slot

30-minute swim increments

Virtual Option:
Swim at your own pool during the month of May and submit your results.

How it works

Sign up for a swim time
Choose your distance or goal
Collect donations or pledges
Swim your laps and make an impact

Distance Options

Indy 500 Swim Challenge

1 Lap Around the IMS: 4,400 yards
2 Laps Around the IMS: 8,800 yards

Pit Stop Relays

Team-based relay
3 swimmers
4,500 yards total

Fundraising

Step 1:

Donate a flat amount when registering
Minimum Donation: $25

Step 2 (Optional):

Collect pledges per lap or yard
Suggested donation: $44 ($1/100 yards)

How it all started

This event began with one swimmer’s mission.

Fellow Masters swimmer and firefighter, Mike Young (“Mr. Flipturn”), lost three close family members to cancer in the same year. Determined to take action, he committed to swimming a full marathon distance—26.2 miles—in the pool.

After six months of training, Mike completed 46,112 yards in over 13 hours.

He wasn’t alone.

His teammates swam alongside him, supporting him every step (and stroke) of the way.

What started as one swimmer’s act of resilience has grown into a 16-year tradition—bringing the community together to swim, support, and fight back against cancer.

Become a Sponsor

Support cancer research while promoting your business to the Indianapolis community.

Click here to view Sponsorship Opportunities.

Donate Today