FUNDRAISERS have been lapping up the action at the Dorchester Sports Centre as the county town’s Lions Club held its 32nd annual Swimarathon.

A total of 24 teams took part in the charity challenge over the weekend, which saw swimmers taking it in turns to clock up laps of the pool.

Half of the funds raised by the swimmers taking part will go to their own chosen causes while the rest will go to two causes chosen by the Dorchester and District Lions Club.

This year’s main beneficiaries were the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the West Dorset group of Diabetes UK.

Lions president Jo Maidement said that this year was the first time representatives from both charities had been present over the weekend as they set up stands in the sports centre foyer.

She added that the teams, made up of up to six swimmers, came from a whole range or local groups and organisations including schools and clubs.

Jo said that the Lions were hoping to raise around £3,000 from the event, so each of their two chosen charities would benefit to the tune of at least £700. She added: “Because we have been much more focussed on the charities we are supporting now people are more inclined to swim for the Lions charities because they know where it’s going.”

Teams taking part included teachers from Haycorns pre-school, seven teams from Thornlow School in Weymouth, Prince of Wales School, the United Church in Dorchester and Stratton Youth Club.

Mayor of Dorchester Peter Mann got the event under way and was full of praise for the way the Swimarathon had supported local good causes over the years.

He said: “I think it’s an excellent event for the community.

“I believe they have raised about £120,000 over the last 31 years and this is the 32nd event. It’s a wonderful way of supporting the local community and we are very grateful to the Lions for what they do.”

Cllr Mann said Dorchester was lucky to have such an excellent facility as the Dorchester Sports Centre, which was hosting the Swimarathon for the third time after opening in 2012.

More than £120,000 raised

THE DORCHESTER and District Lions Club has been running the annual Swimarathon since 1982.

Sponsorship money pledged by swimmers who take part is divided, with 50 per cent going to the entrants’ chosen causes and the other half going to Lions charities.

Over the last three decades the Lions have raised more than £120,000 – 95 per cent of which has gone to supporting local causes. During those years more than 850 teams have taken part in the Swimarathon, clocking up nearly 1,700 miles in the process.

The Swimarathon is one of the Lions’ two major fundraising events of the year, with the other the annual fun run that takes place in May.

For more information visit lionsdorchester.org.uk.