From David Brenneman Tamara Masciola (left), 12, and Kevin Masciola (right), 9, wait for the start signal from their mother, Tamara Miller, all of Fort Washington, on July 11 during the Sharksí Operation P.E.N.C.I.L. swim-a-thon at the Fort Washington Pool Association. The group estimates it raised about $1,000 from the two-day event, half of which will be donated for school supplies for children in Afghanistan.

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Members of the Fort Washington Sharks swim team took part in a swim-a-thon that helped raise money for school supplies for children in Afghanistan.

Coach Marty Stewart said about 20 swim team members, ranging in age from 6-17, brought in $700 between July 11 and 12 for Operation P.E.N.C.I.L., a humanitarian assistance program created by the soldiers of the 16th Military Police Brigade to meet the supply needs for local Afghan school children and teachers. Parents and family friends pledged amounts per lap or a flat amount.

The school supplies will go to children of detainees interned in the Detention Facility in Parwan Province in Afghanistan, directly north of the capital city Kabul.

Stewart said not all of the pledge amounts have been calculated, but expects the total to reach about $1,000, with half of the proceeds going to the swim team and the other half for the Afghan children. She said the 20 members swam 25 miles altogether.

“It really was a great success,” she said. “We’re thrilled that we raised so much money. This was one of our highest (earning) fundraisers that we’ve ever had.”

Stewart said the swim team held swim-a-thons in previous years for other charitable groups, but this was the first year the team had sponsored one for Operation P.E.N.C.I.L. She said the idea came about when the team learned that one of the members’ parents, Air Force Col. Peter Masciola, a Fort Washington resident, was in Afghanistan.

Masciola serves as the director of legal operations for the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, which has command, control, oversight and responsibility for all U.S. detention operations in Afghanistan.

Stewart said the highest record was set by 17-year-old Basem Magd of Fort Washington, who swam 180 laps and raised $200. She said many team members also donated supplies of their own.

The swim team is still accepting donations through July. To donate funds or supplies for Operation P.E.N.C.I.L., email coach Marty Stewart at coachmstewart@hotmail.com.