Issue 327 – Charity swim raises over £10,500 for good causes

CHARITY swimmers, who took part in this year’s annual Lions Club of Frome Charity Swim, raised a total of over £10,500 for good causes. This takes the total raised in the 26 years of the event, to £183,193.

A presentation evening for representatives of the 45 participating teams took place at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Hall, on Friday 6th May. Of the 45 teams who took part several had representatives who received cheques from the Frome Lions’ president, Richard Windley.
As in previous years, the money is shared 50:50 between each team’s chosen cause and Frome Lions, with the team raising most being able to distribute the whole amount to their charity. This year, Nugent Vallis Brierly was presented with a cup for raising the most amount of money – £694.30, which they donated to their chosen charity, Positive Action on Cancer.
Records were broken for the total number of lengths swum in the allotted 25 minutes of relay swimming. Warminster Swimming Club, after time training, clinched one extra length to extend their record to 90 lengths. A total of 2224 lengths were swam by all the teams added together – 70 miles in total.
Dan Norris, public relations officer for the Lions Club said, “The annual charity swim is more than records however, it is about the huge effort of many in getting teams of six together to swim, to then gain sponsors, and then to raise much needed funds for worthy causes. Upton Noble School, as ever, distinguished themselves, by entering five teams of fishy competitors, named Sharks, Sardines, Dolphins, Marlins and Tunas which in total raised £ 475.13 for their PTA. Frome Town Youth Band entered Brassy Tunas and Floating Flats and raised £260.64 for their band funds. Somerset Standard team raised £73.60 for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. St John’s School with four teams raised £483.75 for their school. Frome Community Hospital swam to help fund their Alzheimer’s Society to the sum of £186.83.
“And the Hooper Tribe raised £51.50 for CLIC Sargent, the charity that helped their young daughter Boudicca to recover from cancer surgery: it was special that she took part in the swim this year to help.
“The Lions Club congratulates all and every one of the teams for supporting this great event in the spirit of fun and charity. Lions David Naish and Richard Windley both acknowledged with gratitude the generosity of the sponsors, Yeoman Asphalt Ltd for covering the costs, the Frome Leisure Centre for the venue and the Frome Medical Practice for providing medical cover; also, Mike Smith for helping with the preparation of St Mary’s Hall and the Lions ladies for providing light refreshments.”
For more information about Frome Lions Club, visit their website at www.fromelions.org.uk/