Cold comfort for charities

Jul 30 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

Cold comfort for charities

SWIMMERS braved cold water, strong winds and overcast weather to compete in the annual Across Mersey Swim.

The group of 34 enthusiasts took part in the annual race on Saturday, which raised money for numerous charities including the Roy Castle Foundation, Macmillan Nurses and the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

In first place was Matthew Webster, whose time of 23 minutes was still a good way off the record of 17 minutes 23 seconds set in 2005.

One competitor, Stephen Ackers, raised £6,000 for charity doing the swim.

The race started by the flagpole outside Albert Dock’s Beatles Story and ended at Monks Ferry in Wirral but strong wind blew some of the competitors to a different finishing point.

Organiser Robin Baynes said: “Two lads who were weaker swimmers got washed down the river, but they still continued the swim and finished off somewhere by Seacombe. There was a bit of wind and it was a bit chilly, but the weather wasn’t too bad.

“One swimmer travelled from South Africa and was preparing to cross the English Channel.

“Some competitors were raising money for my own charity, Liverpool Heartbeat, which is great. The charity promotes health awareness and was set up in memory of my friend and swimming competitor, Kenny O’Toole, who died of cancer in 2002.”

Robin, along with friends Jimmy Tinsley and Bob Jones have organised the race for the last 14 years.

From next year, fellow organiser Liam Hanlon will be taking the reins and Robin says the event will be bigger and better, to fit in with Capital of Culture year.

He added: “The race could not be possible without the help of many local groups who help to make sure the event is safe and competitors are OK, we must say thank you to them.”

lizawilliams