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Wednesday 1 February 2012

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Marathon swim to eradicate polio

  • Marathon swim to eradicate polio


Swimmers of all capabilities are being urged to participate in an upcoming fundraiser towards the ongoing fight against polio.

Mossman Rotary Club is taking part in a world-wide swim-marathon on Saturday, February 25, following on from their English Rotarian counterparts, according to Mossman Rotary’s, Roby Kessler.

“The past 22 years have seen the Rotary Club of Grantham, England, hold the highly successful Rotary Swimarathon, raising over £500,000 for local charities and deserving causes,” Roby said.

“In 2012 they are holding an extra event in the form of a Rotary Global Swimarathon - setting a new world record (presently 2533) for the most number of people swimming at the same time anywhere in the world and raising funds towards Rotary International’s worldwide project to eradicate polio.”

The event will take place at Mossman pool on Saturday 25th February 2012 at midday until 1pm GMT – or 10pm to 11pm Mossman time.

To qualify for the world record attempt, swimmers will have to swim just 100 metres without stopping within the hour.

There will be a nominal entrance fee, all of which goes towards the Rotary Foundation’s 20-year campaign to rid the world of polio.

Monies raised will help Rotary raise $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The resulting $555 million will directly support immunisation campaigns in developing countries where polio continues to infect and paralyse children.

So far registrations for the world-wide event have been received from New Zealand, Australia, The Philippines, South Africa, Hong Kong, Portugal, India, USA, Canada, Croatia and the United Kingdom.

Any individual or teams of swimmers wanting to participate in the event at Mossman can contact Roby Kessler at robyk@westnet.com.au or phone 0418 750 005.



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Paul Wilson, 09-02-12 00:35:
Hi Paul here from the Rotary Club of Grantham in the UK, the club behind the Global Swimarathon event. Thanks very much to Roby for sharing this link! Delighted to say we now have over 90 clubs registered worldwide in more than 20 countries including 10 other clubs in Australia - we are well on course to break the world record with over 10,000 swimmers expected to swim in the exact same hour ! http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org
Barbara English, 08-02-12 10:51:
Absolutely.. I am swimming. , Everyonej join Liz. And. Me. In the pool... Barb.
Roby Kessler (Mossman+Rotary+Club), 07-02-12 18:01:
Hello All,

Rotary in the Mossman area are arranging an Swimathon which will be an international event.

This swimathon will take place at 2200 at The Mossman Pool. It is being held at night so that participants around the world can take part in an attempt to reach a huge total of simultaneous participants around the world and which will hopefully win a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

So, what do you have to do? Register your name with me, Pay $10, and then turn up on the night. Swim 2 laps in any style you wish unassisted. That's all there is to it. The Money raised is for The Rotary International eradicate Polio campaign.

Mossman Rotary Club would love to see as many teams as possible from Port Douglas and Mossman enter in this event and yet have a bit of fun as well. We will be giving random prizes through out the night to various teams willing to creat some for us.For example you may want to turn up extravagantly dressed (no birthday suits), ordinary, or provide some entertainment ( not too loud as the pool does have neighbours ). You may be the oldest team or the youngest team or the most uneducated team or what ever. Just come along and have some fun, be safe,, and you may even get a prize after doing your bit in helping us with this very worthy cause.

Please see the attached poster and email me or phone me or any of our members who you may know, to make arrangements for registration and payment.

Yours with Plus Ki,

Roby Kessler,
Mossman Rotary Club Foundation Committee.
Liz Ross, 07-02-12 15:50:
Please get behind this great cause by swimming to support your local Rotary in this special event.
tony , 05-02-12 21:32:
Come on Port Douglas lets get behind this great cause ......

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