How a ULethbridge love story kickstarted a legacy of giving
Shawn (BSc ’98, MSc ’00) and Erin Pinder (BSc ’01) remember what it was like to be student athletes at the University of Lethbridge. They remember rushing to get to swim practice in between classes, travelling long distances for competitions and saving up to pay for equipment.
“Being a Pronghorn athlete was a big part of our university experience,” Shawn says. “It’s also part of our story as a couple. That’s how we met.”
The pair knew each other before they joined the swim team, but it wasn’t until they were swimming laps together that they started dating.
For the past 25 years, Shawn and Erin have donated to Pronghorn Athletics. They see it as a way they can pay forward their experience on the ULethbridge swim team.
“It’s nice to be able to support other athletes,” Erin says. “If we can support them a bit financially, it can really take the pressure off.”
Shawn and Erin have donated to Adopt-A-Horn, a program that sees student athletes raise funds to help them cover the cost of transportation to competitions, meals, equipment and coaching. They’ve supported athletes on both the swim and track teams. “Back when we were in school, people were making donations to allow us to do some of these activities,” Erin says. “Now we can do it for them.”
After finishing at the University, Erin and Shawn lived in Edmonton before returning to Lethbridge.
“We love Lethbridge,” Shawn says. “We always had the intention of moving back.”
They’re on campus regularly, bringing one of their two sons to his swim practices.
“I love to use the facilities on campus, so I do all my swimming there,” Shawn says.
A love for the Lethbridge community
The alumni, who are runners and triathletes, have also purchased on-campus advertising for their business. Shawn and Erin own Runner’s Soul, a specialty running and walking store in Lethbridge. The business sponsors and supports many local events, including the Moonlight Run.