2009: In Memory of Diane Alford

As 2009 goes out, I cannot help but think about my dear friend and teammate Diane Alford who passed away on May 17 of this year, two months after her 39th birthday. She was an inspiration to so many of us. At 12 years old, Diane was one of the top swimmers in Alabama. Shortly after turning 13, she was walking to swim practice one day and was running late. She saw a neighbor riding his motorcycle down the street and asked if she could get a ride to practice. She was given a ride, but before arriving at the pool, a car ran a red light and hit the motorcycle. Diane was in a coma for three days and not expected to live. Fortunately, she pulled through, but lost part of her right leg. Diane stopped competed in swimming for 21 years. She returned to compete in 2005 at age 34. Her first masters meet was at the Auburn meet in February 2005. She was a little nervous before the meet, but once she got the 100 I.M. out of the way, she couldn't get enough. She went on to swim at the Athens, Georgia meet that year. One of the best experiences in Diane's life was attending the Masters Swim Camp at Auburn in late 2005. While there, she dined with Rowdy Gaines and David Marsh. She was thrilled when Rowdy asked her if she wanted to train with a small group at the crack of dawn the next morning. The camp experience fired Diane up tremendously. Sadly, two months after the camp, Diane was diagnosed with *** cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, Diane never lost her excitement about swimming. As her coach, I sometimes had to tell her to be careful when she would push it so soon after a surgery. Still, her determination to live and swim inspired all of us. She kept going to meets and practiced more than any of us. In February of this year, Diane swam her last meet, the Auburn meet. While there, she thoroughly enjoyed dining with Leslie Livingston, Heather Rietz, and her teammates on the Friday evening before the meet. Diane got one last race in , the 50 free, before she collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital. While at the hospital, she found out that the cancer had spread to her brain. For the next three months, Diane fought harder than ever. She continued to come swim even when walking became very difficult. She swam up until one month before she passed away. Diane has inspired so many of us to keep going, in the pool or in life, even when we don't feel well. The Coosa Valley YMCA Stingrays will always remember Diane.