Just Keep Swimming! Help Us Stay Cool & Fight Discrimination

Hi! We're Dee and Ioma. We're a mother and daughter who love to swim, and we're being discriminated against. The pool we have a membership at will only give Mom (Dee) the senior discount if she's married (she is not married). We don't think this is very fair.

Mom and I have been members of a pool for two years. It's time to renew our membership. We were unable to renew our membership last year because of this. It's just Mom and me sharing a home. She's 64 and I'm 41. We live together partially for financial reasons, and also because I'm disabled. She and I would be the only people from our household using the pool.

According to their policies, we would have to pay for a family membership, which would be $370. Seniors, however, only have to pay $125. The catch is that you have to be married.

Last year, we asked if it would be possible to renew our membership at the rate for seniors, as Mom qualifies based on age (55+). The committee said no, because she doesn't have a spouse, so we didn't renew. We're on fixed incomes, SSDI for me and retirement for her.

So, why do we want to swim at this pool in particular? Very simply, I get hives from even minor sun exposure, and this pool is the only one available for swimming after dark. Not being able to swim made last summer a bummer!

I am also asking for help because I'm chronically ill and Mom is my caregiver. She has been by my side and cared for me throughout the worst, and best, parts of my health journey. Over the past few years, I have worked hard on my physical and mental health. We have both been able to enjoy a significant improvement in my health. I would not be where I am today without her support.

Mom and I thank you for your time, and any help you can offer. Any donations received will go directly toward the cost of this year's pool membership.