Air ambulance books its place at Soroptimist Swimathon 2011

On Sunday October 16 the waters of Warwick School’s sports centre will be churning and the hall filled with the cheers of fundraisers taking part in the 14th annual swimathon.

This year the charities are Myton Hospice and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, which has just entered a team.

The air ambulance ensures a rapid response to incidents, with doctors and paramedics arriving at the scene in a matter of minutes and ensuring that life-saving treatment and medication can be administered en route to hospital.

With ever increasing demands being made of the service, and ever-increasing costs of maintaining it, fund-raising is essential, as it relies entirely on individual and corporate donations.

While most teams consist of six swimmers and a non-swimming captain, some enter fewer than six swimmers but still manage to complete the course.

But if there are some people who would like to swim but are not able to raise a team, the bookings officer may be able to help to find another team they could join.

Soroptimist club president June James said: “I shan’t be swimming but I will be helping to open the event and lap counting and will be there throughout the day.

“I have been involved with the swimathon for all 14 years so I more or less know it inside out now. It’s the Leamington and Warwick Soroptimists’ 75th year so we are trying to break all records this year, fingers crossed that we have lots of teams enter.

“It was a unanimous decision across the club to support the air ambulance because we know the work they do and the help that they need.”

Meanwhile, on Saturday September 17 the Soroptimists are also holding a 1920s and 30s charity fashion show at St Francis Parish Centre in Kenilworth from 2.30pm.

To get involved in the Soroptimist Swimathon call 492226 or email to [email protected]