For Lions Club president Paul Allaway, the amount raised ‘says it all’, as the event pushed beyond the £70,000 mark on its final morning yesterday.
‘We’ve exceeded last year’s amount,’ he said. ‘And we’ve still got Beaucamps and St Sampson’s schools going next week, so there’ll be more to come in from them.’
Spirits were also high poolside at Beau Sejour as the last cohort of this year’s swimmers took to the water.
Among those final swimmers was Tia Sibanda, community chair of the Lions Club of Guernsey. She had formed a team with other members of the club along with their families, and was helping to make sure their youngest swimmers in their group made it though their laps.
‘It’s just been amazing,’ she said. ‘It’s a community event. We absolutely enjoy it. This year is our 50th anniversary, and we’re raising money for Les Bourgs, which has been amazing.’
She was hoping that she and her young swimming companions would be able to complete 20 laps together during their time in the pool.
Also taking part for the Lions Club was long-time participant Karen Allaway.
‘I’ve done this lots of times and I always swim for Lions Club,’ she said.
‘They’ve arranged for me to have a lane to myself. So I’m doing the whole thing on my own,’ she added. ‘I’m hoping to get 84 laps. That’s how many I did last year.’
About 1,500 swimmers were recorded to have taken part in the event, completing more than 570kms.
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