A SWIMMING event at Places Leisure swimming pool in Wokingham’s Carnival Hub offered a fun water activity and an opportunity for charities to raise money for their own good causes.
Organised and run by Wokingham Lions, this year’s Swimathon 2025 attracted charities and schools to swim in relay, and has so far, across all the groups, has raised in excess of £6,000.
This year’s swimathon, The Lions’ second, was held during the daytime, midweek, to enable schools to participate.
A Lions spokesperson said: “It was great to see two school teams taking part this year.
“The Coombes Primary in Arborfield was fundraising for a new school minibus, and pupils from Maiden Erlegh School gave up their time to swim for BIBS, a local charity that supports special care babies and their families in Buscot Ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
“Their efforts raised just over £1,300 which will go towards buying state-of–the art incubators and resuscitation equipment for the ward – a truly amazing gesture by the children.”
Starting off the morning’s activities, the Coombes Primary team were joined by swimmers from Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue, CLASP, and The Cowshed.
Each group covered as many lengths of the pool as they could within their allotted time, to raise money through sponsorship, with every penny going to their chosen good cause.
Members of CLASP Wokingham, a self-advocacy group for people with learning disabilities, cheered all their swimmers on.
“We’re doing lots of 20 new experiences this year to celebrate the charity’s 20th year, and this is one of them,” explained Debbie Morrison CLASP CEO.
“Ashley has already gone swimming 20 times as a challenge, and is now doing 20 aqua aerobic sessions,”she said.
Another special mention should also go to Jo, who was determined to take part in the swimathon.
“Before we started our CLASP disability swimming sessions here at Places Leisure, Jo couldn’t swim at all and wouldn’t even get in the water,” Debbie continued.
“Now he’s swimming with such a smile on his face – it warms my heart.
“Our members love swimming and it’s a pleasure to be here.”
“It’s hard work,” said Jo, laughing, “especially as I’m 81.”
But it was evidently great fun, too.
Swimmers for The Cowshed included the charity’s drivers Mark and Dennis, and Alex from Bespoke Independant Financial Advisers, which has made The Cowshed its Chosen Charity for the year.
“We’re delighted that so many of the charities who supported the event last year have returned,” said the Lions spokesperson.
“They see the Swimathon as a fun event and a great fundraising opportunity.
“It’s designed so that everyone over the age of eight, and of all swimming abilities can take part.
“It’s truly inspiring watching each team trying to reach and often exceed the targets they set themselves.”
The Lions hope to make the Swimathon an annual event and to encourage more schools and charities to include the event in their fundraising calendar.
Each team can have up to eight swimmers, to swim in relay for 50 minutes.
The event is fun, low-cost, and poses little financial risk to the organisations taking part, who get to keep every penny they raise.
This year, teams taking part were: The Coombes CE Primary School, Berkshire Lowland Search & Rescue, Foundry College – raising money for Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, The Cowshed, The Link Visiting Scheme, CLASP, Cranstoun – raising money to pay for gym memberships for its members, Building For the Future, Maiden Erlegh School, and team BOKKE (A team of Lions family and friends).
Wokingham Lions would like to offer a big thank you to their swimathon sponsors Places Leisure and Clifton Ingram.
For information, visit: wokinghamlions.org.uk, placesleisure.org, and cliftoningram.co.uk
