St Francis to Join the Swim to Beat Polio - St Francis Bay Residents Association

St Francis Rotarians have partnered with St Francis Sport and the Earlyact Club of St Francis College to participate in the Rotary Global Swimarathon on Saturday, February 25, 2012. This is in support of the international attempt to set a new Guiness World Record for the most number of people swimming at the same time anywhere in the world, and follows the Rotary Club of Jeffreys Bay's announcement that they will partner with Jbay Swim to participate.

All funds raised through these and other Swimarathon events internationally will go to the Rotary End Polio Now Campaign.

The St Francis event will be held at the old Hotel pool in Diana Crescent, St Francis Bay, between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. with registration taking place from 1 p.m. Swimmers of all ages who are able to swim 100m non-stop are invited to participate on the day. The entry fee of R30 will go to the PolioPlus Campaign and entrants are encouraged to find sponsors for their swim to help boost the funds raised on the day. Various stalls selling cold drinks and foods will be operating at the event with St Francis Rotarians' "boerie braai" team promising a braai to remember.

"We are hoping St Francis residents as well as those from Humansdorp and surrounds will support this cause and join in the fun," says St Francis Bay Satellite Club president Tracy de Jager. "We need a minimum of 25 swimmers to qualify for the world record attempt and we have already more than that signed up."

"Certainly we are keen to give our sister club in Jeffreys Bay a run for their money when it comes to how much money we can raise." The St Francis Bay Rotary Club is a Satellite club of the Jeffreys Bay Rotary Club. "We are really grateful that we will have the support of St Francis Sport with their sport event management experience in what is promising to be a great community day," continued de Jager.

Jeffreys Bay Rotary Club's Swimarathon will take place at Training Edge gym with an entry fee of R50.00 and entry forms available at the gym.

The Rotary Global Swimarathon events are being organised by the Rotary Club of Grantham in the UK with the aim of breaking the world record which currently stands at 2533, established at the BT (British Telecom) Swimarathon set in 2002.

The contribution from the Swimarathon will help Rotary International raise $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is needed to support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children.

Those keen to participate in the St Francis Swimarathon can contact Esti Stewart on 073-825-0835 or esti@stfrancissport.co.za or those who want to get involved as sponsors or food suppliers on the day, should contact the club secretary Gilly Schwitter on 083-549-3785 or e-mail gillybean11@telkomsa.net. For details on participating in the Jeffreys Bay Swim contact the club secretary, Leané Cilliers on 082-885-7134 or jbayoptom@intekom.co.za.