Stewie The Duck Swim School and Step Into Swim launched a program that will offer 40,000 free swim lessons for children in underserved communities throughout Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.

The lessons will be held at public and private pools across the tri-state area.

It was announced at the Stewie the Duck Swim School in Norwalk by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Yale University swimming champion Ali Truwit, who lost her leg in a shark attack.

They were also joined by three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, and Stew and Kim Leonard, whose child drowned 35 years ago.

“Throughout the whole journey, swimming has just given me so much hope and courage and joy and strength in truthfully what’s been the hardest and worst year of my life,” said Truwit. “I can’t say enough about how critical the life saving work that everyone here is doing today really is, and I feel really thankful to be a part of it.”

According to the CDC, drowning is a leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4.