Swimarathon participants raise nearly £85k for charity

Saturday 18 March 2023

Jersey's biggest sporting fundraiser saw swimmers complete 23,314 laps and raise £84,469.40 for charity.

All of the money raised will be used to support islanders in need, with the three main beneficiaries being the food banks operated by the Grace Trust, the Salvation Army, and the Society of St Vincent de Paul.

The five-day event – organised by the Lions Club of Jersey – took place at the Les Quennevais swimming pool last week.

Lions Club of Jersey Chairman, Andy Quinn described the result as "outstanding".

He also explained that the £84,469.40 fundraising figure "does not include the generous Ravenscroft sponsorship, which means that every penny raised by the swimmers will be donated to the good causes in the island."

The event has raised £3.6 million over the past 50 years.

Haydn Taylor, Managing Director of event sponsors Ravenscroft, said the Swimarathon was a "unique sporting event".

"There are thousands of participants ranging in age from pre-school children through to those in their 70s and 80s," he said.

"Ravenscroft thanks everyone who swam but in particular praise the small group of volunteers who give up hours of their own time to make the event happen."