The Hawaiian Island Channel Swimmers (HICS), a group of local open ocean swimmers, will be swimming this Sunday to benefit non-profit organization Helping Hands

Hawaii and the Ready to Learn school supply program. Ready to Learn, which was founded by U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye in 1998, assists more than 8,000 low-income students statewide each year.

The HICS swimmers will be taking on an 8-mile swim from China Walls to Kaimana Beach to not only raise money for Ready to Learn, but also to raise community awareness.

"We are all happy to support such a noble cause," said swimmer Mike Paulding.

This weekend's swim is just one of many in a series leading up to a much bigger event – a 9 mile swim on April 30, traversing the 'Au'au Channel between Lana`i and Maui, which will also raise funds to benefit Ready to Learn.

"I am extremely grateful for this great show of support from our community," said Ready to Learn Program Director Scott Morishige. Helping Hands Hawaii's Ready to Learn program will continue to collect donations of school supplies from now until the end of June, and will distribute supplies to the community through a partnership of over-60 social service partner agencies.

For more information, visit Helping Hands Hawaii at www.helpinghandshawaii.org,