Last year, Gleason Family YMCA Swim-a-thon participants swam over 60 miles -- more than the length of the Wareham coastline.

“Considering we have more swimmers this year, and more of our swimmers are actually more active swimmers this year, I would hope that we would have close to 70 [miles],” YMCA Aquatic Director Melissa Dyer said of this year’s event, which took place Saturday morning at the Gleason Family YMCA.

The Gleason Family YMCA Swim-a-thon began in 2012, when Dyer became the center’s aquatics director. Dyer said she brought the idea with her from the Colorado YMCA in which she previously worked.

“We just thought we needed something to get the aquatics staff involved in a financial campaign,” Dyer said. “It’s just a really easy way to get people who love the water involved in raising money.”

Dyer said there were about 42 people swimming last year, who collectively raised a total of about $13,000. This year, she plans to aim higher.

“This year, we have between 45 and 50 that are involved in it,” Dyer said. “The goal today is to raise $15,000.”

The Swim-a-thon lasted three hours, and had three rounds, each of which was an hour. Members of the community could pledge money for each participant, based on how many laps a participant swam, or as a flat donation. The minimum pledge a participant had to raise was $50 for the hour.

“It’s one of the main events of the annual support campaign at Gleason,” Dyer said, referring to the center’s annual campaign it uses to raise money for financial aid memberships. “We never turn anyone away, based on a financial inability to pay for programming.”

Participant Christine Richards, who swam 56 laps (about a mile and a half) in a lane with daughter Molly Richards, said the Swim-a-thon meant a lot to her. Richards, who has chronic back and leg problems sustained in an accident nine years ago, said swimming is the only exercise she can do.

“I figured I would try the pool, and the pool has kind of worked for me,” Richards said. “It’s important mentally and physically for me.”

Michelle Tozer, another swimmer, said she only started swimming a year ago. Her goal was to swim 30 laps. She managed to swim 31.

“I don’t think of myself as a really great swimmer, yet,” Tozer said. “I think it doesn’t matter what your age is, or what your ability.”

Tozer said she had a good time, and will be participating next year.

“The lap counters were very positive and cheering me on,” Tozer said. “It was really so much more fun that I thought it would be.”

Participants swam a total of 2,120 laps, totaling a little over 60 miles, Dyer said in an email the following day. She also said the swim raised $12,046, and that she hoped the continuing donations could match last year's $13,000.