30 bays swum in one day for African farm charity
A GROUP of 22 swimmers swam at least 30 metres in 30 different bays on Saturday to raise money to help African farmers.
They began the challenge at La Vallette at 8am and had completed the last swim, at Portelet, by 4pm.
They were swimming for Send a Cow, a charity that was formed in Devon but which is now international, and which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
‘We are all open water swimmers anyway so we are always up for going swimming,’ said Ravenscroft Construction site manager, Tim Pond, 47.
‘It’s been really good, cracking, laughs and jokes all the way and the majority of people will not have swum in all these bays before.’
En route the group bought a cuddly toy cow at Cobo Village Centre and had their photo taken with a one-day old calf at Smithfield Farm, Torteval.
With the tide very low by 3pm, they finished the challenge with a longer swim from Fort Grey to Portelet.
Julie Taylor said it had been a great day with good company and it was a great cause to support.
‘Mike [de Laune] brought the fruit, but I brought the cakes and sweets – all the unhealthy stuff – which I think people preferred,’ she said.
Tony Raine and wife Pauline organised the event.
‘Each swimmer was charged £20 to take part and I didn’t expect people to take things on board as thoroughly as they have done,’ he said.
The charity was formed after the Bishop of Uganda, on a visit to the UK, noted milk going to waste. Farmers decided to send 30 cows to Africa and it went from there.
Though the sending of cattle stopped in 1998 due to the BSE crisis, the charity has now broadened its interests in African farming.
It has support from the Rotary Club of Guernsey and the Overseas Aid & Development Commission.
