"This opportunity means so much for us"

Sunday 19 January 2025

Raising money to support islanders with cancer and their families will be the key focus of the biggest sporting fundraiser of the year.

Scheduled to run from Wednesday 19 to Sunday 23 March, this year's Swimarathon will be taking place at Les Quennevais Pool.

Over half-a-century of charity support

Now in its 53rd year, the event sees more than 2,500 local swimmers take to the water each each year.

Schools, businesses, and other community groups all get involved over the five-day period, signing up to participate in an hour of swimming, paddling or walking in teams of up to eight people.

Since launching the local event in 1972, the Lions Club has raised over £3.8m for the local community.

Pictured: The Lion's Club 'Melvin' the mascot, cheers for local islanders taking part in the sporting fundraiser event. (Rob Currie)

Each year, there is a different theme, with previous years focusing on supporting outdoor wellbeing and therapy projects, as well as local food banks.

"One in two people in Jersey have some contact with cancer"

This year's is focused around supporting islanders with cancer, with the seven beneficiaries confirmed this week as: ABC Breast Cancer Support Jersey, CLIC Sargent (Jersey), Jersey Cancer Relief, Jersey Brain Tumour Charity, Friends of Jersey Oncology, Macmillan Cancer Support and Jersey Hospice.

Explaining the rationale behind 2025's theme, the Lions Club said: "We are very conscious that cancer affects many people in Jersey and that, statistically, one in two people in Jersey have some contact with cancer – hence our desire that one of the island's longest established major fundraiser should support these charities." 

"We appreciate any funds raised"

Tess Watson, a case worker from CLIC Sargent (Jersey), which focuses on providing support to young people with cancer and their families, expressed her gratitude for the charity's inclusion in the beneficiaries list.

"It signifies that more islanders are aware of how we can help support those families who have a child diagnosed with cancer," she said.

"We appreciate any funds raised by any local event as we will use these funds to help Jersey families directly. We offer a monthly grant of £335 upon their diagnosis and continue to offer this grant during the child’s treatment."

This year's chosen charities all work together in the Government-run group, the 'Jersey Cancer Network'.

"This opportunity means so much for us"

Together, the charities work to improve the experiences of local cancer patients by inviting islanders that have used the oncology services and local charities to gather first-hand feedback to identify areas for possible development.  

Pictured: Jersey's Lieutenant Governor, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE and Ravenscroft, Hayden Taylor pose with mascot 'Melvin'. (Rob Currie) 

Fiona Potts, Chair of the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity, which is part of the JCN and a Swimarathon beneficiary, explained that many of their trustees "have actual first-hand knowledge of how it feels to be in this position, due to their own diagnosis or their family member". She herself has also suffered with a brain tumour.

Having been named a beneficiary of the 2025 Swimarathon fundraiser, she responded: "As a small charity, we are massively overwhelmed! This opportunity means so much for us, and it will allow us to continue our support for clients, family, and their friends, who have a brain tumour diagnosis."

The event is once again taking place with the help of sponsorship from Ravenscroft Investment Management, which have a six-year partnership with the Lions Club of Jersey.

Pictured top: The pupils of St John's primary school celebrating at the 50th anniversary of the Swimarathon in 2022. (Rob Currie)