SwiMarathon Awards Night
Written by HFM on 15th May 2018
Rotary Club gives £5000 raised at the SwiMarathon to local causes
At a special presentation evening on Monday 14th May 2018 the Rotary Club of Market Harborough gave grants totalling £5000 to 18 local organisations.
The money was raised at the 8th annual SwiMarathon held at the Harborough Leisure Centre in April. 38 teams from local schools, clubs and businesses were sponsored by families and friends to swim for 50 minutes. The 2 day event was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A total of 3,875 lengths was swum.
At the presentation grant recipients gave short talks about their plans to spend the awards. Gordon Etherington chair of the SwiMarathon Committee said “Everybody benefitted by learning about other good causes in Market Harborough, and about SwiMarathon and Rotary. It was wonderful to hear how many people volunteer in so many various and busy ways in and around the area.”
The grants were advertised on HFM and in the Harborough Mail and on the SwiMarathon facebook. Applications for up to £500 were invited. The grants were decided by a panel of independent judges and ranged from £100 to £500.
The Rotary Club thanks the business sponsors for their generous support without which the event would not be possible. They are:
Andrew Granger & Co, Angel Hotel, The Battery Store, Brooke House College, Duncan Murray Wines, Dunleavy’s Hair, ET Peirson, e.surv Chartered Surveyors, Harborough Leisure Centre, Harborough Mail, Jet Pumps UK Ltd, Lavender Blue, Lewingtons Heating Engineers, Market Harborough Building Society, Mayday Finance, Mistry’s Pharmacy, Parr Automotive, PJD – design and print, Stephen Sanderson Transport Ltd, Tim Thornton Jewellers, Town and Country Veterinary Practice, Walker Forestry Conservation, Wartnaby Hefford Solicitors, Weltons of Great Bowden, Wilkinson – Goldsmiths.
Grants were awarded to:
Royal British Legion (MH Branch)
St Dionysius Church
HCYC – the Speak Out Magazine Project
Home Start South Leicestershire
1st Stoke Albany & Wilbarston Brownies
Harborough Christian Counselling Service
Great Bowden Recital Trust
Meadowdale School Association
MH Group of Diabetes UK
MH Swimming Club for the Disabled
MH Welcome Club
Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Harborough FM
Harborough Town U10 Rangers
Market Harborough Street Pastors
Shopmobility Market Harborough
South Leicestershire U3A
Vista
There were also prizes awarded to swimmers and individuals who had contributed to the success of the event. These were:
The Tom and Barbara Walker Award for outstanding achievement (2018)
This award, given in honour of former Rotarian the late Tom Walker, and his widow Barbara who is a regular, generous business sponsor of the SwiMarathon, is given to the person who has the most impact on the success of the SwiMarathon.
For 2018, the award was given to the teams of Ladies of Great Bowden, many from the Women’s Institute. They have swum in every one of the eight SwiMarathons held and have encouraged their grandchildren to swim with them, too. This year they also won the Prize For the best team name “GeriAquas”. Their contribution to the success of the SwiMarathon as an event has been huge.
The team who swam the most lengths: The Welland Valley Tritons from the WV Triathlon Club who swam 164 lengths.
2018 Star Swimmer: Rosalind Read who swam in Team Brian
2018 Star Junior Swimmer Nyah Cotton
Best newcomers 2018 The Battery Store who not only provided sponsorship from the business but entered a very active team of swimmers who raised swim sponsorship too.
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