Inviting night swimmers
Fancy a midnight dip for charity and the chance to be part of a world record attempt?
Matamata Rotary is offering this opportunity to the community as part of a worldwide push to raise funds to eradicate polio from the planet.
The Rotary Global Swimarathon event will be held in the early hours of Sunday, February 26 at the Matamata Sports Centre pool to coincide with events in more than 50 cities and towns around the globe.
Rotary Club
of Matamata vice- president Graeme Guilford said the idea was to have as many people around the world swim 100m between noon and 1pm Greenwich Mean Time in an attempt at a world record for the most people swimming worldwide at the same time.
‘‘So in Matamata, we need people swimming between 1am and 2am in the morning which is a really novel concept,’’ Mr Guilford said.
‘‘ This is a unique opportunity for people to be part of a world record attempt, have some fun and more importantly raise funds to help rid the world of polio.’’
Mr Guilford said Rotary International joined forces with the World Health Organisation more than 20 years ago with the aim of eliminating polio and in 2012 that aim was close to being realised.
‘‘At present there are only four countries where polio is still present but it is vital we immunise children in these countries to ensure the disease does not spread into other parts of the world,’’ Mr Guilford said.
‘‘This is a fabulous international cause for people to get behind. Imagine in years to come being able to tell people you played a part in helping to eradicate polio from the world.’’
To that end, the Rotary Global Swimarathon is being held.
‘‘We are asking people to sign up to swim just 100m between the hours of 1am and 2am and pay a $20 entry fee to do that,’’ Mr Guilford said. ‘‘We would also like people to try and raise further sponsorship on top of the $20 entry fee and all the money raised will go to Rotary International’s polio fund.’’
Entries forms are available from Paper Plus and the Matamata Chronicle offices.