LP Swimathon: Splash for Cash

We celebrated the re-opening of the swimming pool on Tuesday 18^th and Thursday 20^th January with a two-part swimathon in aid of PETALs. Students signed up to swim as many lengths as they could during the co-curricular swim session, raising money through a £5 participation donation and individual sponsorship based on an amount per length. The total raised from the school community has been £540 with a further £375 through Facebook.

The inspiration came from Jo Toovey, Biology and Psychology teacher, supported by Jez Belas, Director of Sport, PE and Wellbeing. Jo is bravely tackling her own sponsored challenge of completing 1,000 metres of al fresco wild swimming every month from November to March inclusive, with at least two swims of 250 metres minimum distance per month. Jo’s most recent swim was just 6 degrees, only just above the official temperature cut off for ice swimming. In comparison, the temperature in the newly refurbished pool is positively tropical! “We’ve been waiting for a long time and it’s really exciting to now have the pool open and be used by our different members of the community.” Commented Jo from the poolside, “We thought what better way to celebrate that than to have a competition that isn’t a competition; students could enter just to experience the pool for the first time or be sponsored for the number of lengths they can swim in 40 minutes. We also thought that it would be lovely to continue in the typical LP tradition and do this by also being sponsored for a charity.”

PETALs is a charity which offers men, women and couples free counselling following the devastation of baby loss based in Cambridge. Specialist support for grief, anxiety, depression and PTSD are available to help cope. Jo explains, “The reason we chose PETALs is that it’s a really important charity. We had a charity locally that supported people from bereavement with miscarriage, still birth and difficulties conceiving. The charity helped people in receiving free counselling sessions to support their mental health going through this difficult time. It’s not something that is actually supported on the NHS. The charity that we’ve chosen to sponsor is a national charity based in Cambridgeshire that does the same work as the local charity did. The reason that we had to change is because with the onset of Covid, charities were not receiving donations anymore and unfortunately the local one based in Reading had to close due to lack of funding. It’s a really worthwhile course and we’re hoping that people are happy to sponsor it.”

Year 8 swimmer Rhys said “I wanted to take part of it because I wanted to raise money for charity and I’m a strong swimmer. I have been swimming since Reception at school and love swimming so I thought that I may as well take part in it and try my hardest for the charity.”Gideon (Year 9) added, “I have been swimming since I can remember, and have been swimming competitively since I was about 7.5 years old.  I have swum for different clubs, and have qualified for three counties championships.  This year I have qualified for the 50, 100 and 200 breastroke races at the Hampshire Counties championships at the end of January. I enjoy swimming as it is great exercise, keeps me fit and is a good way to make new friends.  When I joined Leighton Park I was excited to be able to continue swimming at school.  I was very disappointed when Covid struck and we were unable to use it, and then when it had to be closed. I was very excited to hear that it was going to open this term, and when the opportunity came to take part in the Swimathon I took it.  Not only was it a great way to raise money for a good cause, but it let me make up for lost time in the pool and I could check out my competition for any inter-house races we may have!  I really enjoyed the Swimathon, and it was good to see a lot of people in the pool.”

Director of Sport, PE and Wellness, Jez Belas, concluded “I’m so pleased the pool is finally re-opened! It’s been hugely improved with new tiles and lighting and I’d forgotten how great a facility it is. As a department we’re so happy that we can support Jo’s charity efforts via the swimathon which our students (as ever) have jumped on and swam through superbly! Well done to all students for taking part and Zoe, Freya and Jakki for lifeguarding. Let’s raise as much money as we can for PETALS and celebrate the pool re-opening in style.”