APEX, N.C. – Jacques Gilbert, 51, is learning how to swim for the first time.

What You Need To Know

  • The mayor of Apex is learning to swim.

  • Drowning is the 5th leading cause of death for all ages.

  • Carolina Swims Foundation and the Michael Curran Foundation are partnering to teach underserved children how to swim.

Gilbert is the mayor of Apex, and he is also the former police chief.

Gilbert told Spectrum News 1 there was only one community swimming pool where he grew up, and it was a whites only pool club.

"I have a story, and I wasn't around a lot of water at a young age, so I didn't really have the opportunity to learn how to swim," Gilbert said.

Sarah Chaires, the founder of the Carolina Swims Foundation, is teaching Gilbert how to swim.

The Carolina Swims Foundation is a nonprofit health organization that provides free swim lessons and aqua-therapy to children in foster care and underserved children.

"Swimming is a survival tool," Chaires said.

The foundation has taught more than 200 children how to navigate the water.

Gilbert is taking the plunge to hopefully encourage other minority children to not be afraid of the water.

"I've always had concern about going down, just going to the bottom, but with Sarah's help, I just feel so much more relaxed," Gilbert said.

Carolina Swims Foundation partners with multiple nonprofits, including The Michael Curran Foundation, and Jack and Jill of America to provide the gift of swimming to children.

To help give the Gift of Swim, please visit its website.