Swimmers hoping to compete in the Special Olympics are getting some extra help from a dedicated volunteer group of 30 excellent high school swimmers.

The Delaware County teens devote between 2 to 3-1/2 hours a week every Sunday providing coaching lessons mid-January through May at the Ridley Y to help special needs athletes develop their swimming skills, reports Nick Iadonisi for 6abc.

The hope is that the added coaching will help as the athletes strive to compete in the Special Olympics at Penn State.

“Without these volunteers, we would not be able to do anything that we do. Our program would not be able to be the size that it is. It’s all because of them,” said Special Olympics swimming coach Susan Haney.

Parent Chris Barnes of Havertown is impressed by the volunteers.

“These kids, they choose to wake up on a Sunday morning and be part of supporting our athletes,” she said. “They don’t have to do it and yet they do it. It’s awesome.”

Volunteer coach Abby Lint has been working with the team for a few years now.

“…It’s really great just to see them improve and get better and we just kind of build a relationship and a connection together,” she said.

Find out about more about these teen volunteers at 6abc.