Annual charity swim event launched at Splashpoint, Worthing

WORTHING town crier Bob Smytherman helped launch this year's Rowland Gibson Charity Swim yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jan 2016, 09:40 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 06:46 BST

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Worthing mayor Michael Donin dives into the charity swim launch, watched by town crier Bob Smytherman and representatives from the charities and sponsors SR1600252Worthing mayor Michael Donin dives into the charity swim launch, watched by town crier Bob Smytherman and representatives from the charities and sponsors SR1600252
Worthing mayor Michael Donin dives into the charity swim launch, watched by town crier Bob Smytherman and representatives from the charities and sponsors SR1600252

The annual swim is open to all ages and abilities, raising money for the Worthing mayor’s charities Guild Care, Kamelia Kids and Canadian Roots UK.

Representatives from the charities and Worthing Homes, one of the sponsors, were at the launch at Splashpoint pool, Brighton Road.

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Mr Smytherman said: “The swim is in its 23 year and places are limited so people need to book up early.”

The swim will take place at Splashpoint on Saturday, March 12, from 4.30pm to 9pm, with four choices of start time.

Organiser Kim Woodley said: “It’s not about the swimming, it’s about the raising of funds.

“The sponsors, Roffey Homes and Worthing Homes, pay for t-shirts for the volunteers and medals for the children.

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“We had about 160 people take part last year and hope to get around 200 this year. I have already written to all the schools and asked them to save the date but it is not just for children, it is open to all ages.”

The annual swim was renamed in 2011, to honour the man who dedicated his life to making it a success.

It was Rowland Gibson’s ambition to raise £100,000 for charity and he had reached £63,000 before he died in October, 2010, at the age of 48. A life-long epileptic, he fell at his home and had a cardiac arrest. This caused a lack of oxygen to the brain and resulted in a coma from which he never woke up.

Visit the website worthingmayorscharities.co.uk/swim2016.html for more information about the swim, registration and sponsor forms.

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Related topics:Guild Care