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The Big Swim kicked off at the beginning of this month, challenging Kiwis to set a personal swimming goal throughout June to raise funds for Coastguard’s volunteer crews. Last year was a huge success, with more than 2500 people collectively swimming nearly 30,000km and raising over $640k to support Coastguard’s lifesaving work.
Swimmers can start at any point through the month, so there’s still time if you want to dive in, or donate to one of the many teams and individuals
Members of Coastguard Hibiscus have teamed up and are hitting the pool to do their laps this month, with the goal of reaching 95km.
For Sarah Ivinson, it’s a cause close to her heart. When she was six years old, her older sister drowned while on a family holiday. (Hibiscus Matters, December 11, 2023).
Ivinson says the trauma has stayed with her and she only learnt to swim three years ago so she could join the Coastguard after volunteering as a firefighter.
She plans to swim 10km for the Big Swim and has already raised more than $2500.
Teammate Dave Tilley has a more ambitious target of 95km and is now regularly doing 60 to 80 laps at the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre.
The team members are fitting sessions around their busy lives, but having already reached their target in the first weeks of the campaign, they plan to raise as much as they canto go towards Coastguard’s volunteer work.
To support Coastguard Hibiscus or other participants go to bigswim.org.nz
