9th March 2011
Olympic hopeful Harry Martin has issued a charity challenge to local people to dig out their swimming gear and take part in the 2011 Great East Swim on behalf of two local charities.
The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation and EACH, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, have both been named official charity partners of the Great East Swim and have a limited number of free places available for individuals willing to take the plunge for either cause.
The Great East Swim is a one mile open water swim taking place at Alton Water near Ipswich on Saturday 11th June 2011. The event, now in its third year, is the UK’s favourite open water swim series. It involves the world's best elite swimmers side by side with celebrities, club swimmers and fun swimmers.
Harry, who represented England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and is a Suffolk SportsAid Foundation grant recipient, said: “The Foundation is the pathway to greatness for young sports people throughout the county. This is where the dreams start and where our young athletes progress and move to the next level. The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation helps to take them to that next level but they can only do it with local support.”
He added: “Fundraising events, such as the Great East Swim, are important in helping the Foundation to help our aspiring local athletes. On average a talented athlete will spend £5,000 per year on equipment, training, travelling and all the other essentials that are required for competing at the top level. More often than not their only sponsors are Mum and Dad so every bit of independent recognition and financial help that the young athlete gets at this stage makes a world of difference.”
Mark Loades, Fundraiser for the EACH Treehouse appeal commented: “EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. We help to deliver a range of services which includes: short break care, specialist play activities, music therapy, hydrotherapy, parent groups, sibling groups, care at end of life and bereavement support for all family members. EACH needs to raise £4 million in donations to deliver their services this year alone. This amounts to £11,000 a day, every day of the year.”
Hannah Bloom, EACH Suffolk Partnerships Manager, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen as one of Suffolk County Council's nominated charities for the British Gas Great East Swim. This is a fantastic event, which brings people together from across the region to have fun, get fit and raise vital funds for local charities such as EACH.”
The Great East Swim boasts no walls, no lanes, no chlorine – just the great outdoors. It is a fantastic challenge for swimmers of all abilities. Further information about the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation and how to register is available at www.suffolksportsaid.com
