More than £20k raised already for GSPCA
SWIMMERS have already raised more than £20,000 in this year’s Skipton Swimarathon.
This year’s five-day charity fundraiser launched with a splash on Wednesday and runs until tomorrow.
‘This year the main benefactor is the GSPCA and we’re really proud to support them,’ said Swimarathon chairman John Stuart.
‘It’s unique, in our 47 years of the Swimarathon we’ve never supported an animal charity, but we believe that the money is going to a good cause and that the public of Guernsey backs this.
‘The work the GSPCA does is all very worthwhile, supporting pets and any injured animal. I think they do a wonderful job, and like everybody, they need lots of money for their big build.’
The event will take more than 30 hours of pool time by the end of the weekend, and the schools have also been involved.
‘On Thursday we went to Les Beaucamps, who did brilliantly. They had about 120 swimmers and have raised £1,600 so far, which is 10 times the amount they raised last year,’ said Mr Stuart.
‘St Sampson’s and Le Murier also do a great job, and they’ve been swimming today from 8.40am until 3pm.’
The event is supported by the Lion’s Club of Guernsey and the Guernsey Round Table.
Members of the Therapy and Enabling Service and the Adult Disability Service, with a variety of disabilities, took to the pool to show off their swimming skills.
Wheelchair users Jack Birch and Dean Dorrity raised more than £500 alone.
‘We’ve been doing this for years and we bring along however many people want to join,’ said therapy and enabling technician Hellen Batiste.
‘We have two wheelchair users in the pool today who are very pleased to be back now that the assist into the pool is fixed.
‘There are three or four staff members here today as well, some in the pool, and some families have come to watch too.’
There are still some lanes available to book today at www.swimarathon.org
