SWIM FOR CHARITY 2026
For 2 days in October this year Wareham Lions Club took over the swimming pool of the Purbeck Sports Centre for their annual Swim for Charity event, with teams taking part from all over the Isle of Purbeck area, stretching from Swanage to Cheselbourne. 21 Organizations provided 47 teams from various clubs, schools, trusts, and people just wanting to raise money. The teams came from Wareham, Wool, Lulworth, Cheselbourne, Swanage, Lytchett Minster, and Bere Regis. The 340 swimmers with ages ranging from children aged 5 years old up to seniors over 70 years old, they achieved a total of 3112 laps of the pool covering up to 155.5 Kms.
The Wareham Lions carried out tasks from setting up an admin area and putting out signage to direct teams, and by the pool side counting laps completed by the swimmers for 5 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday. Lions and their wives carried out the administration of booking in all the teams on time and accounting for all the sponsorship money raised. Lion wives also ran a successful tombola in the All-Stars Cafe area for the 2 days. The event could not be run without the support of team captains, who organize the swimmers and get them to the event on time, and parents who support the teams with car rides and enthusiastically encourage the young swimmers during the swim.
In January we gather in the All-Stars Cafe for a presentation of shields and medals which are presented to teams in various categories and age groups. The purpose of the event is to raise money for worthy causes, so at this presentation we pass on the cheques that the teams have raised to the team captains. This year's total was over £15,600.
WAREHAM LIONS CLUB PRESIDENT 2026-2027
John Goodwin
