Swimarathon in Maidenhead, Big Wipes team do swimmingly

The Maidenhead-based Big Wipes team took part in the Lions Club Swimarathon for the 3rd consecutive year.  Most importantly, it turned out to be the most successful year yet with a record £36,000 being accumulated by all the teams.

The Big Wipes team raised a whopping £667.50, which will be shared between The Lions Club and our chosen charity, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.  Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored us!

Swimarathon Thames Valley Helicopter and Big Wipes Van

The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on the Swimarathon as follows:

The Swimarathon, held at the Magnet Leisure Centre just after Christmas, is an all-day sponsored swim.  The teams complete as many lengths of the pool as they can in their allotted time slot. The money they raise is shared equally between teams’ chosen charities and the Lions Club Charitable Trust.  Scores of charities, community groups and schools benefit from the event.

Brenda Butler, Head of the Organising Committee, confirmed: “98 teams representing 36 community organisations had entered.  That is to say that more than 800 swimmers in total took part in the event.  This year was the 33rd time the Swimarathon ocurred and it brought the grand total raised since it began to more than £700,000.”

Swimming Pool

Speaking after the presentation, Lions president Peter Skinner said: “It’s not just about what we raise but also about what we give. Most of the money raised – about 90 per cent – goes back into the borough.”

Even the Prime Minister and Maidenhead MP Theresa May made an appearance!  She stated: “it’s fantastic that it keeps going from year to year.  Furthermore, they have filled all the team slots for the first time, which means more people doing this for really good causes.

“But it’s not just the money”, Mrs May concluded.  “It’s also the great fun everyone has doing it and everyone involved can see the great effort they put in.”

Swimarathon Big Wipes team raises money for charity

Who Are The Lions?

Ordinary People – Amazing Things.  The members of The Lions Club of Maidenhead are a group of very ordinary men and women.  They believe that we should do something to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  As they are a part of Lions International, the worlds biggest service organisation, they are thus often able to achieve remarkable results.