Swimmers stride out for KiltWalk

Perth City Swim Club has signed up for this weekend’s KiltWalk and challenged its members to raise a total of £1409.

The club picked the sum to mark the 14/09 date which will see the long-awaited reopening of some pool facilities in the area.

With recent severe flooding enforcing the continued closure of Perth Leisure Pool, the club’s planned return to the water has been severely impacted.

But a huge amount of work with Scottish Swimming has gone into finding alternative facilities to help some of the swimmers make a staged return after almost six months out.

This year’s KiltWalk is a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but main backer Sir Tom Hunter has pledged to top up funds raised by 50 per cent.

Perth City fundraiser Pamela Renfrew said: “We are encouraging as many of our swimmers and their families to take part in the 2020 Virtual KiltWalk.

“People can walk, run, cycle or even bounce up and down on their trampolines this year.

“We have set a £1409 target to mark the phased return to pool date.

“Other clubs across Scotland are beginning to get back in the water, which is great, but the situation has been particularly challenging for Perth City.

“Just as we were planning to get back, the storm hit and caused horrendous flooding at Perth Leisure Pool, which means it will remain closed for some time yet.

“We are trying to find pool time at other venues and our president Carol McPartland and head coach Ann Dickson have been putting in an incredible amount of work with Scottish Swimming to try and secure some options.

“Limits on swimmer numbers at each session will have cost implications, which is why we are urging our members to seek sponsorship and take part in the KiltWalk.

“The fact that every penny they raise will be topped up by 50 per cent makes it a really worthwhile exercise and will help the club get as many swimmers back in the water as possible over the coming weeks.”

Full details of how to take part or simply to sponsor the club can be found at https:// edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/ uk/perth-city-swim-club