Guernsey Press

Swimarathon hopes to draw more in

THE SKIPTON SWIMARATHON has launched a children’s colouring competition, encouraging more youngsters and families to engage with one of Guernsey’s largest community events.

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Illustrator Sharka Lee with one of her designs for the children’s colouring competition. (22232633)

The fundraising swimming event is now in its 42nd year and has raised more than £1m. for local charities.

This year the sponsor commissioned local artist Sharka Lee to create the designs to encourage even more islanders to get involved with the five-day event.

The competition is open to all children aged four to 10, with the best artist winning a family day at Pirate Bay Adventure Golf as well as cinema tickets. They will also launch one of the weekend Swimarathon sessions at Beau Sejour.

Sharka Lee is a children’s illustrator and art teacher at Elizabeth College, which has participated in the Schools at Large Swimarathon competition for many years.

‘It was an honour to be asked to be involved with the Skipton Swimarathon and being given such a fun project to work on. I really enjoy illustrating for children as it’s such a liberating experience.

‘You can be as imaginative and creative as you wish. Through this competition, I hope more children are encouraged to join in with the Swimarathon and awareness is raised of some very worthwhile local charities,’ she said.

The Village Project at Le Murier School has been selected as the main beneficiary of the event for this year. Money raised will help complete the building of four log cabins to helps students and those in the wider community learn independent living skills.

Nick Guillemette, chairman of the Skipton Swimarathon Committee, said: ‘This competition is a chance to bring real colour to the event and for families to get their children involved, even if they aren’t able to swim.

‘For more-confident swimmers, we would encourage as many as possible to take to the pool.

‘If they are dressed as mermaids or riding inflatable unicorns, it really doesn’t matter as it’s all about having fun.’

n The colouring competition is now open until 21 September, with a winner to be announced on Wednesday 26 September. To enter the colouring competition, download Sharka’s creation from www.swimarathon.org.