Our target was to swim the equivalent of a marathon (26.2 miles) in the Harrodian pool, roughly the distance from Richmond to the O2 in Greenwich, following the route of the Thames.
Across the Prep School up to the Sixth Form, pupils swam as many lengths as they could before/after school and during lunch time. All of them were sponsored and raised money for charity.
The idea was the brainchild of Laeticia Gibbs in our 9s, who enjoyed taking part in the first Harrodian Charity Swimathon last year. She loves swimming and is a member of the team but more importantly she wanted to raise money for the neonatal unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where she was born very prematurely, weighing only 846 grams. Laeticia swam a record 116 lengths and so far has raised nearly £2,000 via her justgiving page. (Please click the link HERE if you wish to make a donation via her justgiving page). The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has often been supported in the past by HSPA fundraising events and Reza Beyad, Chair of the HSPA, helped Mrs Gibbs and her daughter make the Swimathon happen, see below:
However the event would not have been possible without the help of our invaluable Prefects! They kept watch over the pool, encouraging the swimmers and counting their lengths. Some of the total raised by Harrodian swimmers will be donated to their charity of choice - The Grenfell Tower Appeal.
Congratulations to all our swimmers and a big thank you to everyone who helped. They swam a total of 2472 lengths of the pool and totally blew away our target of swimming a marathon achieving a grand total of 30.72 miles.
The total amount raised has yet to be calculated as we are still waiting for some sponsorship forms to be handed in.
Please make sure you give in your sponsorship forms with cash/cheques to either Rachelle at Reception or the Senior Office.