Supported by Speedo, celebrities, world-class swimmers, representatives from the House of Lords and up-and-coming youth swimming champions made a splash at London’s Porchester Hall last month, cheered on by over 350 guests, to raise critical funds for Northern Ireland charity Hope for Youth.
Following head-to-head competitive swimming in the Hall’s 1920s-era swimming pool, the relay team consisting of Jonathan Higham, two-time British Masters record holder & Speedo ambassador; Jazz Carlin, 2016 Olympic medallist & Speedo ambassador, Edward Whittles and Aryaan Din, Chelsea & Westminster Swim Club and led by Lord Paddick hoisted the Speedo Cup and Visitors' Cup and secured bragging rights until the next biennial charity swim. Also honoured on the night was outstanding swimmer Zoe Musial of Chelsea & Westminster Swim Club who took home the Wilkinson Sword for her stand-out performance in the pool.
To celebrate the friendly rivalry in the pool, guests later attended a gala dinner and charity auction to continue to raise valuable funds for Hope For Youth. Speaking about the success of the evening, Eugenia Dunn, Swim Chair, said, “Hope For Youth hosts a series of fundraising events each year to generate vital funds to support cross-community youth-focused initiatives in Northern Ireland. Following the closure of our 2020 grant application programme, we have celebrated a significant milestone of having supported over 450 youth-oriented projects in Northern Ireland during the charity’s 47-year history. We are delighted to announce that between our luncheon hosted at the Culloden Estate & Spa in April and this year’s Charity Swim in London, Hope For Youth has raised over £100,000 to benefit young people.”
Celebrating its 29th year, this year’s Swim welcomed well-known faces including Olympic medallists Duncan Goodhew MBE and Kerri-Anne Payne, the Earl and Countess of Erne, Lord Stoneham, Lord St John of Bletso, The Voice of The X Factor & Swim compere, Peter Dickson, and editor of the Belfast Times blog Jeff Meredith among esteemed guests.
