From haircuts to The Big Swim

On the 10th August a team from Swindon Dolphin took part in the first Prospect Hospice Big Swim at Bowmoor Sailing Lake near Lechlade. The combined efforts of Kerry Rutherford, Bea George, Eilidh Carver, Anant Mane, Sarah Forbes, Fraser Durston, Jason Tait, Zoe Bettinson, Dean Fouracre, Beth Crouch and Doug Alexander in the water, and the generous sponsorship of family, friends and club members meant that Swindon Dolphin were able to contribute over £1,200 to one of the town’s most important and valued organisations.

It is the latest in a busy year of fundraising by both Dolphin as a whole and by individuals within the club. A team of mostly Masters swimmers supported the Rotary Club’s sponsored world record attempt in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, the usual yellow and gold T shirts disappeared for an evening as the club supported the British Heart Foundation’s Rock Up In Red event, and the club’s annual sponsored event saw money raised towards the upkeep of the Thamesdown hydrotherapy pool. The young volunteers got in the act too at this year’s barbecue with the proceeds of an impressive cake sale being donated to Ruby’s Fat Cow Fund.

Selling cakes for a cause

Outside of these team efforts there have been swim related fund raising contributions from Peter Harper and the Tait family in the annual Swimathon, and Jon Audis found himself at the same event as ex world champion Mark Foster when he took part in an open water swim in aid of Level Water, a Paralympic legacy charity providing swimming lessons for disabled children.

There has also been all of the other fund raising that Dolphin swimmers, volunteers and parents have participated in, from ‘traditional’ sponsored events such as John Cholod’s Great North Run, to the more unusual, like young Kerry Rutherford having her long hair cut short. There is almost certainly much more.

Chief Coach Louise Clayton was delighted when she was reminded of just how much Swindon Dolphin and its members have achieved during the last twelve months. “The Big Swim was a tremendous achievement and we are very grateful to the swimmers and all of their sponsors. It was a pleasure working with Prospect Hospice during this event. It is great to support so many causes,” continued Clayton, “but it is also great to see so many club members finding time to make a contribution.”