Swimmers raise flood funds

Bunbury swimmers took to the water in a 12 hour ‘‘swimathon’’ on Sunday in a unique and successful effort by Bunbury Swimming Club to raise funds for flood-affected Queenslanders.

Forty-two swimmers aged eight to 17 lapped the South West Sports Centre pool for up to 5km at a time, raising $1500 in pledges and cash donations on the day.

Bunbury Swimming Club vice-president Lydia Ciffolilli said the fund raising event was a great success.

‘‘They all put in a great deal of effort,’’ she said.

‘‘The swimmers had a great sense of achievement that they were doing it not for themselves, but for somebody else.’’

Mrs Ciffolilli said that some swimmers covered up to 5km in the pool before taking a break and then returning to the water to swim again.

Pledges were made by families and supporters of the swimmers based on the distance they aimed to cover during their swim or as a base amount for taking part in the swimathon.

Aquatic Supervisor at the Sports Centre and Bunbury Swimming Club member Sally Bennett said two sports centre staff, including herself, donated their time outside of normal operating hours to open and close the pool, and the centre allowed the use of two of its lanes free of charge.

‘‘The centre donated two lanes all day from 6am to 6pm,’’ she said.

‘‘Swimming participants were allowed to enter the pool for free and a lot of the swimmers put their entry fee into the donation bucket.’’