LATEST
2009 Swimathon Charity Payments
Since the November 2009 Hamble Community Swimathon the Rotary Club of Southampton East has now made approximately £11,000 (including Gift Aid), of charitable payments following the event in November last year.
£3000 was presented to Northam Community Youth Club to keep the Junior Section open.
Over £3000 went to the people who took part in the Swimathon to raise money for their own local charities, and a further payment of approximately £3150 went to the Hamble College link with the South African Township School of Ferndale in Pheonix Natal Province. Indeed this money helped to bring 4 young South African students to Hamble for sports training in March 2010.
Finally £1700 was paid to the participating local schools from the proceeds of the Prize Draw at the Swimathon.
Hamble Community Swimathon 6th & 7th November 2009
Click here to look at the photos
With 5000 lengths of the pool, 100 kilometres in distance, by just over 150 swimmers, having lots of fun and smiling faces the first Hamble Community Swimathon was a success.
Six lucky draw ticket holders drawn by Head Teacher Ian Knights at 5.00pm on Saturday won the great prizes of two Cruises, a Ferrari Experience, a Season Ticket to the Sports Centre, a French Holiday and a Disneyland Paris Adventure.
No doubt the households of Buxey of Old Netley (Ticket No: 5497), Wright of Netley Abbey (Ticket No: 11289), Cheesman of Locks Heath (Ticket No: 14234), Attard of Bursledon (Ticket No: 7832), Ayres of Sholing (Ticket No: 11480) and last but not least Strickland of Bursledon (Ticket No: 19600) will be delighted.
All the Prize Vouchers were dispatched by Special Delivery on November 9th 2009 from Hamble Sports and Community College.
As a fund raising event it was also successful, however until all of the sponsorship money is in, it is currently impossible to declare exactly what each of the three charity sections raised, but there will be grants from the Prize Draw for the participating Schools.
On both days there was a buzz around the Sports Centre, with lots of "cheering on" in the pool. The Sports Centre Snack Bar continued to serve drinks and snacks on both days, and The Art of Living "Guess how many Purple Balloons in the Purple Smart Car" was a major attraction. Similarly the Hamble Community College Interact Club's Raffle for their International Project drew much interest, especially with the numbers of cuddly toys that were available!
The event was sponsored by BP, VT Group, BAE Systems, P&O Cruises, Fred Olsen Cruises, Picador Motors, The Art of Living, Brittany Ferries, Bursledon Parish Church, The Portrait Company, Porsche Centre Bournemouth, Thruxton Racing Centre, Eurotunnel, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Blackthorn Medical Centre, Bath Travel, Sholing Press, and Hamble Sports Centre.
We were also privileged to have some wonderful guests to open the events on the two days.
On Friday we had Councilor Liz Mizon Mayor of Southampton, Katy Sexton MBE, the World 200m Backstroke Record Holder, and Nigel Barnfield Rotary District 1110 Governor. Whilst on Saturday we had Rt. Hon Chris Huhne MP for Eastleigh, John Caldwell Deputy Mayor for Eastleigh and his wife Jennifer, and Bernie Topham CEO of Eastleigh Borough Council. They were all excited and interested in the purposes of this Community Project, and the benefits to the Students of Hamble Sports and Community College, as well as the feeder Schools of Bursledon Infant and Junior Schools, Hamble Primary School, and Netley Abbey Infant and Junior Schools.
Many thanks go to all those who worked so hard to make the event a success, from the Sponsors, to the School Staff, to the Sports Complex Staff, Hamble Interact Members, Members of Southampton East Rotary Club and their partners, and of course the Swimmers.
So look out for 2010, when we hope to expand the scope of sponsorship events by offering much more of the sports activities that are available at Hamble Sports and Community College as well as the swimming.
Watch this space and sign up early in 2010.
Bob Bax: President
Rotary Club of Southampton East
To find out about next year's Swimathon Contact us and watch this space!
