Swimmers' vote helps charity with a heart get £10,000

Monday 11 March 2019

Swimmers taking part in the Swimarathon over the weekend have voted for the Neil Hussey Heart Charity - which was created in memory of an islander who died from a heart condition while out cycling - to receive £10,000 out of the £110,000 raised during this year's event.

The charity was created in January 2018 by Neil's widow Blanca Palacin with the aim of providing free heart screenings to detect undiagnosed heart conditions in adults and school children.

The first screenings were held in October with 50 students from Les Quennevais School receiving a heart electrocardiogram (ECG).

More than 4,000 swimmers that took part in this year's Swimarathon, covering a total of 27,000 laps, were asked to nominate a local charity of their choice as part of a 'People's Choice' award and Neil's charity was the most popular choice of the participating teams.

Pictured: Blanca Palacin with her children Sofia and Ayla at last year's Swimarathon.

For the past three years, Neil's family and friends have organised ‘The Orange Hour’, taking all eight lanes of the Swimarathon at 20:00 on the Saturday in memory of Neil. Blanca explained: "He was a keen swimmer for many years during his younger years and university and we find that it is the ideal way to pay him a tribute."

This year, 72 swimmers and captains got into the water during the 'Orange Hour.' They were "ecstatic" to learn the charity had been the most popular among participating teams.

A post shared on the charity's Facebook page said: "We have just received the news! The Neil Hussey Heart Charity has been the most voted charity by the Swimarathon’s swimming teams and will receive £10,000! We are ecstatic! Many Jersey children will benefit from this donation. Thank you all who voted us and thank you Lions Club of Jersey for the amazing job that you do every year."

Ms Palacin said: "At the Neil Hussey Heart Charity we are delighted and overwhelmed by having become the most voted charity under the People’s Choice Charity of the Swimarathon. Many Jersey children will benefit in the short and medium term of this generous donation and we are looking forward to sharing the next heart screening plans very soon.

"The Charity’s steering committee, its members and friends have worked very hard to spread the word about what we do. Thank you so much to everybody who voted for us. We are so grateful!"

Lion Berry, the Lions President, said: “It is very fitting that the teams have chosen a very deserving local charity and one whose own supporters have been enthusiastic participants in the event. We are delighted for them.”

The event's chosen charities - Brighter Futures, Caring Cooks, Milli’s Separated Family Centre, Mind Jersey, and Silkworth Lodge - will also receive £10,000 each. The Lions Club will be presenting the cheques to their representatives towards the end of this month. Up to £50,000 will also go to community service activities in the island.

Lion Damon Greber, the Chairman of the Lions’ organising committee, said that further donations and sponsorships are still expected before a final result can be announced. "We have once again received very generous support from the public and the 4,000 or so swimmers of all ages who took part," he added.

Lion Berry added: “As they have done for so many years the people of Jersey have shown their generosity towards the Swimarathon. Our grateful thanks to everyone who has helped us achieve such an excellent result.”