Photo by Deb Gau Sue Morton swam to the end of her 29th lap during her annual Big Swim at the Marshall Area YMCA on Tuesday. A collection of 75 rubber ducks lined up on the pool deck served as lap counters – Morton moved a duck from one side of the lane to the other with each lap she swam.

MARSHALL — The distance she swims keeps growing each year. But on Tuesday, Cottonwood resident Sue Morton still made it to her goal of 75 laps in a little more than two hours.

A group of staff and area community members were waiting by the Marshall Area YMCA pool to cheer Morton on.

“It was fun. It was a little bit harder,” Morton said after she finished the final lap.

Morton completed her annual “Big Swim” on Tuesday, swimming her age in laps. The event started out a few years ago as a way to celebrate her twin brother’s birthday while raising pledges for Y scholarships.

Each year Morton has done the Big Swim, she’s added a lap to the total.

This year’s swim raised a total of $2,707.50 for the YPartners scholarship program, said Marshall Area YMCA Executive Director Tom Bolin. The scholarship program helps people who might not otherwise be able to afford a Y membership or classes.

Over the course of her swim, Morton was joined by other area residents who swam laps alongside her for part of the way.

“I try to make it to this every time,” said Y staff member Jacob Benson.

Benson and Morton chatted a little as they swam.

“She’s a powerhouse,” Ruth Bot said of Morton. Bot swam some laps alongside Morton on Tuesday, and stuck around to cheer Morton on to the end of the swim.