10:50am Friday 18th April 2008
FIVE charity workers made a splash to raise money for another good cause.
The welfare staff from the St John's Winchester Charity took the plunge at River Park Leisure Centre yesterday (April 17) to take part in Swimathon 2008, the world's largest swimming fundraising event.
They helped to raise more than £900 for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation.
The team, made up of Jane Andrews, Heather Buckley, Mia Knight, Jackie Small and Julie Stepney, swam a combined distance of 5km and were just five of 19,000 swimmers taking part nationwide.
Jackie Small said: "It has been fantastic being able to take part in Swimathon 2008, raising money for such a worthwhile cause as Marie Curie Cancer Care and achieving personal goals at the same time.
"It was a brilliant day and there was great support from the pool and our residents."
Olympic gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew, is president of Swimathon. He said: "I would like to congratulate everyone who swam in Swimathon 2008.
"The event was a huge success and, thanks to the superb efforts of all the swimmers, we are hoping to raise £1.8m, 70 per cent of which will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care so that they can continue to provide high quality nursing, totally free, to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home supported by their families."
Donations are still welcome. Visit www.swimathon.org and click on "sponsor a friend".
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisishampshire.net