Press Release from Ozarks Healthcare:
WEST PLAINS, MO – What started as a swim team fundraiser became something much more meaningful this summer as the West Plains Waves Swim Club, along with supporters from the Seymour and Houston swimming communities, came together to raise over $450 for the Ozarks Healthcare Cancer Treatment Center while honoring the memory of a beloved coach and mentor.
Among those helping support the effort was Morgan McKinney, swim instructor of the Toni M. McKinney City of Houston Municipal Pool and daughter of the late Toni McKinney, whose lifelong dedication to swimming left a lasting impact on generations of swimmers throughout the region.
The Houston pool was named in Toni’s honor in recognition of her decades of service to the community. Beginning as a lifeguard in 1995, she spent nearly 30 years teaching swim lessons, coaching swim teams, training lifeguards, and mentoring countless young athletes. Even after being diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in 2021, Toni remained actively involved in the pool and swim team she loved.
“She was everything pool,” Morgan said. “She always knew what to say and pushed us harder than we imagined. Even while fighting cancer, she was still helping with swim team, organizing meets, and training lifeguards. She never stopped.”
Inspired by her mother’s determination and legacy, Morgan and the Houston swimming community joined the West Plains Waves’ fundraising efforts benefiting the Ozarks Healthcare Cancer Treatment Center.
“Her legacy lives on through the pool, through the swimmers she taught, and through the people she inspired,” Morgan said. “This fundraiser was a way to honor her while helping others who are facing cancer.”
The fundraiser also highlights the important role organizations like the West Plains Waves Swim Club play in encouraging healthy, active lifestyles among young people. Through competitive swimming, athletes develop lifelong habits of fitness, discipline, teamwork, and perseverance while building meaningful connections within the community.
One of those dedicated mentors is Kristi Sheridan, a speech-language pathologist at Ozarks Healthcare Therapies, who has long been an active coach, mentor, and supporter of the Waves Swim Club. Sheridan has helped foster a positive environment where young swimmers can grow both in and out of the pool, while also encouraging community service through efforts like this fundraiser.
“This fundraiser is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together with compassion and purpose,” Terence Farrell, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. “These swimmers, families, and supporters are helping ensure that local patients have access to exceptional cancer care close to home. Their generosity reflects the strength and kindness that define the communities we are privileged to serve.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the West Plains Waves Swim Club, Morgan, Kristi, and everyone who supported this fundraiser,” Josh Reeves, Ozarks Healthcare Vice President of Development and Advocacy, said. “Their generosity and desire to honor Toni’s legacy will have a meaningful impact on patients and families receiving cancer care right here in our community.”
For Morgan, continuing to coach, teach swimming, and manage the pool where her mother dedicated so much of her life is one way she carries Toni’s legacy forward.
“I’m trying to look up to her,” Morgan said. “She meant so much to so many people, and I hope to continue what she started.”
Ozarks Healthcare extends its sincere appreciation to the West Plains Waves Swim Club and the Seymour and Houston swimming communities, and all who participated in making the fundraiser a success. Their generosity serves as a reminder of the power of community and the lasting impact one person can have on countless lives.
