Good causes and charities receive £30,000 raised by Grantham RotarySwimarathon supporters

It was an evening filled with gratitude, awe and applause as grants totalling £30,000 were handed out to 40 community groups and wonderful causes.

Pews in St Mary and St Peter's Church, in Harlaxton, were filled with “the best of Grantham”, as the 2023 RotarySwimarathon concluded on Monday with the presentation of money raised by 1,278 swimmers.

Held over three days in February at The Meres Leisure Centre, the swimming event, organised by the Rotary Club of Grantham, is a highlight in the Grantham calendar.

This year, 213 teams took part, raising £36,675 – the remaining £6,675 was put aside for any future requests for help and towards an under-wraps gift to the town next year when the Swimarathon celebrates its milestone 35th anniversary.

This year’s sponsorship brings the total raised over the event’s 34 years to almost £973,000 – with the Rotary club hoping that next year’s event will tip the total over the £1 million mark.

Speaking from the podium at the presentation evening, Rotarian and Swimarathon organiser Roger Graves said: “We are privileged to have over 100 volunteers from within the community here.

“Not everybody realises just how many support groups there are in Grantham and I think we should all agree they do a fantastic job.

“There are many who do such wonderful work and many times without the praise they deserve.”

Organisations which help the homeless, support displaced people, offer lifelines to those in need and provide opportunities for young people were among those awarded grants, alongside schools, support groups and scout groups.

Rotary club president Jerry Seaman – who flew from his home in Chicago with wife Patti to be at the special event – presented the cheques to each group.

Speaking afterwards, Jerry told the Journal the impact the grants make is “incredible”.

He added: “It shows how much we can do when we do things together.

“Rotary in Grantham, all three clubs, care deeply about the welfare of this community and the people in it and I can see that in the swimmers and I can see that in the beneficiaries of the grants.”

Earlier in the evening, from the podium, Jerry thanked all those who contribute to the Swimarathon, from the swimmers to the volunteers who help out. He gave special thanks to Roger for all his hard work.

A number of people were invited to speak, including Nicci Whittaker from the Jubilee Church Life Centre, in London Road. She read out an email she had sent to Roger following the Swimarathon in which she talked about the lasting impact the event had had on six Ukrainian boys who took part.

The boys have been helped by the Jubilee team after taking refuge in Grantham from the devastating war in their country. One, aged 11 years old, had told how taking part in the Swimarathon was his “best day in England”.

Rachel Wilson, of the Children’s Bereavement Centre in Newark, told how a £2,000 donation will help the centre “support those children that need us through one of the most traumatic times in their lives”.

Deputy Mayor of Grantham Councillor Charmaine Morgan was a special guest, who told the audience she was trying to hold back tears after being moved by what she had heard.

She added: “As a councillor you see the worst things. Today, we have seen the best things and the best of our town.

“This church is filled with love and it goes out from here to our communities.

“When I’m talking to people and they are so desperate, it’s so good to know that behind us there are wonderful people in our town, doing such wonderful work.”

As well as cheques, trophies were handed out. The HSBC UK Highest Senior School trophy went to Sir William Robertson Academy (SWRA), in Welbourn, which entered 14 teams and raised £4,195.

The Basil Blackham Cup for the highest number of teams taking part from a primary or junior school went to St Anne’s School, while the Basil Blackham Founders Trophy for the higest amount raised by an individual team (non-school) went to Bomber Command for raising £534, a team made up of grandparents, parents and grandchildren.

The Kevin Lawry Presidential Community Shield went to the organisation that, in the eyes of the club, has achieved the most in the community as well as the Swimarathon, and this went to SWRA. The school was praised for providing 16 students to act as volunteers on each day of the event.

New camping equipment was also presented to Caythorpe Scout Group and Duke of Edinburgh students from SWRA.

The Reverend Sarah Tierney, of the Harlaxton group of churches, received Lego for a parent and toddler group.

The presentation evening also saw Jerry donate £500 – as president – to his chosen charity, the British Red Cross, as a passionate advocate for helping people displaced by war and tragedy.

The 2024 RotarySwimarathon is taking place February 3-5. Information: www.rotaryswimarathon.org