Thomas Smith Charity Swim raises €14,000 in aid of MCCF and sets new record

€14,000 was raised during the 17th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund. A record 330 swimmers of all ages braved the winter sea in Sliema to raise funds for charitable causes. This record number of swimmers exceeds last year’s participants of 299.

Held every year since 1999 under the patronage of the President of the Republic, this year marks the 17th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim. The swim is held every year under the patronage of the Office of the President.

Radio presenter Daniel Chircop was among the swimmers who braved the cold sea together with other media and sports personalities. Through their popular radio show, Daniel Chircop and Sander Agius encouraged a group of listeners to take the plunge and another group to raise money without swimming.

The swimmers varied in age: Alfred Abela and Wilfred Pirotta, both 79 years old, were the oldest male swimmers while the youngest male participant was Benji Schranz, age 5. Victoria Simmons was the oldest female swimmer at 77 and Eva Testa, age 3, was the youngest female participant.

In a brief address to the swimmers before they jumped into the cold sea, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca thanked everyone for their support to the Malta Community Chest Fund. She commended Thomas Smith Group for organising the charity swim on an annual basis and thanked the company for contributing towards the final amount donated. The President presented medals to all the 330 participating swimmers after they completed the swim.

“What started off as a bet between friends at Christmas time in 1999 has now become an annual appointment on the calendar of events of the Office of the President and Thomas Smith. The Thomas Smith Charity Swim continues to attract an ever-growing number of swimmers, expressing their solidarity and altruism by jumping into the cold sea to raise substantial sums of money for the Malta Community Chest Fund,” said Joe Gerada, managing director at Thomas Smith Group.

Mr Gerada, together with Anton Buttigieg, Project Cargo Business Development manager and Liana Cachia, Group HR & Marketing manager – the team behind the organisation and coordination of the Thomas Smith Christmas Charity Swim – will present the cheque to the President at San Anton Palace in early January.

The 2015 Thomas Smith Charity Swim was supported by the Sliema Local Council, the Civil Protection Malta Department, The Malta Police Force, Malta Red Cross, St John Ambulance, Drinks n’ More, DJ Arthur Garrett RTK, Danusan, Karl Borg Events, Sign It, Giorgio’s Cafeteria, Fresco’s Café, The HIVE Ltd, Visual Trends, A&M Printing, Dolceria Clyde, Cara’s, Golden Gate Malta, Longbow Ltd, XZone Gzira, Vertex Vending Services Ltd, Ghaqda Sajjieda Dilettanti Sliema, as well as many other supporters.