At 4am, with the air biting cold and wetsuits still damp from the night before, the challenge was real. The Level Water 24-Hour Swim was never going to be easy but without challenge, there is no achievement.
The first ten hours tested the swimmers’ grit as they battled 30mph gusts and relentless rain. But as night deepened, the skies cleared to reveal a beautiful starlit sky, even as the temperature plummeted to a chilling 8°C.
Two teams took turns to pass the relay band on the hour, every hour. Each swimmer completed four hours in the water yet somehow found the energy, and a smile, for one final lap in bright sunshine.
Everyone who took part was superb representatives of the school but also wonderful teammates, supporting and encouraging one another throughout. Staff members played a vital role too, offering encouragement from the sidelines and even diving into the challenge themselves.
The team’s efforts have already made an extraordinary impact. Donations raised so far will fund nearly 300 one-to-one swimming lessons for children with disabilities through the Level Water charity.
If you would like to support the swimmers, please follow the link.
Level Water gives children with disabilities the opportunity to learn to swim. From physical development to social and emotional confidence, swimming is a vehicle to change their lives for the better. More information can be found here.
Although a little bleary eyed today, the following pupils who took part should be incredibly proud of themselves: Luke C, May D, Oscar D, Arthur F, Milo H, Joe K, Ryan M, Phoebe R and Thomas W.
