The global swimarathon co-ordinated by the Rotary Club of Gratham on Rotary Day 23rd February, saw thousands of swimmers link up to raise funds for End Polio Now and other local charities.
So far the number of swimmers who took part around the world is 2,540 with further reports still to come in. The swimmers linked up with 262 Rotary clubs to participate in 130 events in 44 countries. So far over £48,628 has been raised and the figure is still rising.
The event began on the other side of the world on Friday 22nd February, when five swimmers from the Rotary Club of Pupuke swam the length of Auckland’s most famous beach. At Cairns in Australia an 82 year old lady called Thelma outswam everyone with a two kilometre swim. Meanwhile in Kurunda, Australia, 12 year old Aurora swam five kilometres and 38 year old Roberta – who only learnt to swim a few weeks ago – swam an astonishing two and a half kilometres.
In California the swimmers plunged into the Pacific Ocean joined by Tina Neill, world class open water swimmer, who also holds the world record for fastest English channel crossing by backstroke.
Paul Wilson of the Rotary Club of Grantham said: “At London 2012 they said ’inspire a generation’. Our incredible swimarathon on Rotary Day went even further and inspired every generation. With swimmers aged from three to 93 and speaking 22 different languages, this was a magical global effort to help give the gift of a polio free world to future generations.”
Special guest at the UK event in Grantham was ex-paralympian and world champion backstroke swimmer, Fran Williamson. The event was covered by BBC local news in Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
