Five-year-old Jacob beams with pride with his two sisters as he helps the Davis family complete Sunday’s swimathon at Christ’s Hospital.
The team of dad Neil, mum Kate and children Harriet, Lily and Jacob were among dozens of teams competing at the Bluecoats sports centre as the world's biggest swim took place in over 500 swimming pools nationwide.
Jacob swam the first and last of the family’s lengths.
Swimmers took to the water to fundraise for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation. It was great to see so many young people competing so enthusiastically to raise money for charity.
The Pennthorpe Piranhas, from the school in Rudgwick, competed in the same lane as The Farlington Fish. It was all played out in a good competitive spirit as brothers Milo and Fenn swam for the Piranhas against sister Poppy - aiming to complete 120 lengths - in the Farlington squad.
Both teams were cheered on by motivational coach Hattie, one of a number of volunteers who were counting lengths or encouraging the swimmers.
Other teams competing included GAS (Gill’s Amazing Swimmers) and team Bananarama, which consisted of several of the swimming teachers at Bluecoats.
Teenage team boring.com put in an excellent performance, with Matt Probin, Dominic Gates and Hannah Boxall completing their target lengths. Matt’s brother Jason had completed 100 lengths during Saturday’s swimathon.
Swimathon 2009 was open to everyone, encouraging people to set their own personal challenge by completing a distance of their choice. Swimmers challenged themselves to the ultimate 5K challenge, 2.5K for the intermediate swimmer or 1.5K for those who swim occasionally.
Bluecoat Sports Club Manager, Nigel McMahon, said: “We have been running this event for a number of years but the response this year from members of our Health and Fitness Club, local groups and members of the general public has been fantastic and has made the event the most successful we have run”.
All ages and standards of swimmers entered the event but special mention should be given to Darren Povey who is disabled and relies on a wheelchair but still completed the 1.5 swim. Several teams entered the event including ‘Mel’s Mermaids’ who were hoping to achieve their 5K challenge in record time, as well as the ‘Red Rebels’, a team made up of Bluecoats’ own operational staff. Itchingfield Junior School also took part in the Simply Swim challenge during their term time swimming lessons and Christ’s Hospital pupils will be completing their challenge this week. Horsham’s Leisure Link group ‘Ready & Able’ also completed the Simply Swim challenge which was a superb achievement.
Swimathon organiser, Gill Probin added “Events such as these bring the community together in aid of worthwhile charities. It is an opportunity to keep yourself fit; challenge your limits and a great way to educate people on specific charities and, of course, raise money.”
Every £20 raised will help Marie Curie Nurses to provide one hour of support to a terminally ill patient.
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