Article Text

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored Bryna Helfer on July 14 for 35 years of service establishing and sustaining the Spring Hill Rec Center adapted aquatics program, which serves swimmers with disabilities.

Helfer, who moved to Northern Virginia in 1989, helped found the program in 1991. She continues as an instructor and advocate for the effort.

“You literally started a movement,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay told her during a proclamation ceremony at the start of the board’s meeting.

Helfer described the impact of the work in simple terms. “The water’s magical. It’s freeing, equalizing,” she said, adding that she has found the program to be uniquely rewarding. “I’ve done a lot of things in my life. This one is the most fun.”

The program depends entirely on volunteer support to operate. “We can’t run this program without volunteers,” Helfer said.

Fairfax County offers adapted aquatics on Sundays at Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean, Wednesdays at Franconia Rec Center, and Fridays at Audrey Moore Rec Center. The Park Authority also provides adapted athletics in gymnastics, kayaking, yoga, fitness training, ice skating, tae kwon do, fishing, and Pilates.

Braddock District Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer testified to the program’s personal impact. “People like you literally made my son’s life better,” she told Helfer.

McKay pledged the county’s continued commitment to inclusive recreation. “We’re going to make sure we build inclusive environments all across the county,” he said.