The Different Strokes Swim Team (DSST), San Diego’s all-inclusive GLBT masters swim team, will hold their 14th annual Bart Hopple Memorial Swim on Sunday, Feb. 27, at the National City Pool in Chula Vista from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. All money raised from the event will benefit Christy’s Place, Special Delivery and San Diego Youth & Community Services.

In 1991, DSST ran its first Bart Hopple One Hour Memorial Swim to honor its co-founder, Bart Hopple, who passed away from complications stemming from AIDS. A former triathlete, Hopple also co-founded the Front Runners group in San Diego. Each year volunteers from Front Runners help to time and record laps completed at the memorial swim.

Participants will compete as part of a team or as individuals to complete as many lengths of the pool as possible in a continuous one-hour swim. The relay component was added this year to the swim in order to gain more swimmers and raise more money.

Each member receives pledges from family and friends who donate money on a per-length or lump sum basis. In 2004, DSST raised over $4,000 for Condoms NOW!, AFABI Tijuana and Auntie Helen’s Fluff ’n’ Fold. DSST is hoping to top the amount raised last year.

Fred Will, DSST’s activities coordinator, has been involved with the team for most of its 20-year history and has participated in the swim for the last few years.

“I find it exciting. I find it a challenge and I like the camaraderie,” he said. “I like swimming and pushing myself to the extremes, to see how many laps I can swim, and supporting the community.”

Will said the event is an opportunity for everyone to get involved. “New swimmers haven’t done it and would like to do it as a challenge to see how much they can swim nonstop for an hour, which is a challenge for a lot of the swimmers, and they feel really good about it,” he said.

Established in 1985, DSST welcomes swimmers of all ages and skills.