Young swimmers raise £3.5k for children’s cancer charities in relay
Youngsters from Water Tots swimming school at Ilford County High School raising money for CLICSargent children's cancer charity - Credit: Archant
A children’s swimming club which is set to close after being unable to find a new home has raised more than £3,500 for two cancer charities.
Watertots Swimming School, based at Ilford County High School’s pool, held a week-long swimming relay, with children as young as three and four taking part to swim 100 miles – 8,045 lengths.
The school is facing closure in the wake of Redbridge Council’s takeover of the school pool next month, having been unable to find another location in time.
Joined by Waves Swimming School, the group was raising funds for CLIC Sargent and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Derek Clark, of Watertots, said: “The event was set up as a swimming relay, adding together all the lengths of the pool that members of the school could swim – this included all the pupils, water assistants and teachers, of Watertots Swimming School and Waves Swimming School.
You may also want to watch:
“One of the fundamental principles of these events is to give all children a chance to participate – in most other sponsored swims only full strong swimmers can take part.
“We want to give everyone the opportunity to take part, which promotes team work.
Most Read
- 1 Safeguarding concerns at 'outstanding' Atam Academy in Chadwell Heath
- 2 Have you seen this 52-year-old man missing from Ilford?
- 3 Derelict pavilion in Goodmayes Park destroyed by fire
- 4 Police and council join forces to help raise Covid awareness
- 5 Growing public support for tougher pet theft sentences
- 6 Council must pay £4,500 for failing disabled brothers
- 7 Have you seen this 17-year-old missing from Ilford?
- 8 Welcome to Chadwell Heath Spartans, a true family football club
- 9 Double murder accused remanded in custody over ‘brutal’ stabbings
- 10 CCTV still issued of man sought in 'vicious and unprovoked' attack in broad daylight in Barkingside supermarket
“We have a few disabled pupils and they take part and swim with everyone else, all the swimmers and their parents enjoy this event.
“They are all determined to do as many lengths as possible and swim as a team.”
And the team smashed its target of 100 miles, swimming more than 150 overall.
Funds will be split between the two charities.
