Young swimmers are making a splash in the fundraising world by helping poorly children.
Swimmers with Swim2Swim are counting their lengths and asking for sponsorship to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
So far, their combined total has exceeded 33,000 metres with the total funds raised so far topping £1,100…with more lengths and money still to come in.
The challenge has been taken on by swimmers and their teachers at the Britannia Pool in Marks Tey and the You Fit Health Club Pool in Eight Ash Green, near Colchester, throughout March. Swim2Swim also teaches all ages and abilities of swimmers at the Primrose Pool in Ramsey. The pool closed last year after a fire broke out but refurbishment work has now been completed and lessons are due to begin again on April 21.
Richard Sullivan, who runs Swim2Swim with his wife, Karen, and their team, said: “Learning to swim is such an important life lesson but there is so much more than that in our lessons”.
“We become a swimming family which supports each other and enjoys working together to help others. We are motivated to raise important funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital where we know every penny counts and we look forward to extending our fundraising to swimmers at the Primrose Pool.”
Among the fundraisers are Annabel Fern, eight, who has been counting the number of lengths she has completed during her lessons and Katherine Scott, who is nine, and who has been adding up her lengths during family swimming times.
Katherine is learning to swim at the Britannia Pool. Her mum Andrea Porter said: “She absolutely loves her swimming lessons with Swim2Swim. She loves how friendly and engaged the teachers are during the lessons. They really care about what they are doing. Katherine is a kind little girl who loves to do things for charity.”
Tara Fern, Annabel’s mum, said: “Annabel has been incredibly excited and motivated by this swimming challenge. It’s wonderful to see her determination in counting every length, knowing that she’s helping children who really need it. Swim2Swim has created such a positive and supportive environment—it’s inspiring to see the swimmers working together to support Great Ormond Street Hospital.”
Alannah Sigwart’s daughter Tabitha, swims regularly with Swim2Swim and to them Great Ormond Street Hospital is a charity which resonates deeply. Alannah said: “Our child has been under the care of GOSH since birth so it is a charity close to our hearts. It’s an amazing place and we’ll be forever thankful to them.”
Swim2Swim teaches children the vital skill of swimming from when they are babies to becoming strong, competent swimmers. The family-run business runs small group lessons starting with classes for babies and toddlers, where the learners are accompanied by an adult or carer. All lessons are delivered by water-based teachers with the added benefit of only one class in the pool at one time.
All Swim2Swim teachers are fully qualified, DBS checked and trained in safeguarding. For further information on swimming lessons visit www.swim2swim.com, call 01206 212603 or email [email protected].
