News / Perfect weather for Bressay-Lerwick charity swim
THE BRESSAY to Lerwick swim saw spectacular weather and a staggering turnout of supporters for a fundraiser which has, to date, raised over £13,000 for charity.
By half past three on Saturday afternoon throngs of people lined Lerwick’s small harbour, writes Genevieve White. They crowded the pier, basking in the balmy September sun and looking over the sound to Bressay, where the 19-strong team were limbering up for their 1,200-metre swim across the channel.
This was the day the swimmers had been waiting for: a culmination of months of training, planning and, if the group’s Facebook’s page photo gallery is anything to go by, numerous high jinks involving false tang moustaches.
In addition to regular sea swimming, the group’s energy has been channelled into raising money for three worthwhile causes: children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent, the Lerwick lifeboat and NHS Shetland’s frontline emergency services.
Sitting on a bench overlooking the small harbour were 11 year old Cody Jay and his family. Cody Jay is currently receiving treatment for a brain tumour on the mainland. He is living at CLIC Sargent accommodation, which is opposite Edinburgh’s Hospital for sick kids.
It was Cody Jay who inspired Emma Williamson to organise the fundraising swim, and he was clearly delighted that his stay at home in between chemotherapy treatments coincided with Saturday’s event. “I’m feeling well at the moment and really glad to be back home. Sometimes I don’t feel so good after the treatment, but if it’s helping my sight then it just has to be done.”
With a wide smile, Cody Jay said that he was really looking forward to cheering on the swimmers. “I’m wishing that they all do really well. I can’t believe they’re doing this – it’s amazing.”
As the waiting crowds waited for the swim to start, fundraisers did their rounds with collection buckets. Yvonne Nicolson has been involved in the Bressay to Lerwick swim fundraising campaign over the past few months.
Observing the fantastic turn out, Yvonne remarked on how enthusiastic the Shetland community’s support for this event has been: “The causes are close to a lot of people’s hearts and the money’s staying local too, which is good. The swimmers have all trained so hard and it’s just great to see it all coming together.”
In addition to her collection duties, Yvonne was also there to cheer on her son Craig, who was taking part in the swim.
As the swimmers came into view, flanked by kayaks to keep them on track, heartfelt cheers rose up from the waiting crowd.
A large banner bearing the name “Smirk” was held aloft by Ella and Marianne Gordon, who had both turned up to support their dad Stephen. Asked how she felt her dad would get on, Ella smiled. “Well, he is a bit slow – I think he’ll be doing breast stroke so I imagine he’ll be at the back. But he’ll do fine.”
Student Craig Nicolson was first to arrive at the small harbour. Looking remarkably unfatigued, he said that the swim had been “quite refreshing”. Craig added that the weather conditions had helped a lot too: “The sea’s been a lot calmer today than some of the conditions we’ve been used to during training.”
Not long afterwards Emma Williamson, Gilbert Bain Hospital nurse and founder of the swimming group, arrived at Lerwick Harbour to a tumultuous cheer. How did she feel after her dip? “Splendid! Ready for soup and bannocks. We’ve got 200 bannocks, meat enough to fill them all and millions of home bakes at the Lerwick boating club waiting for us.”
She added: “It feels amazing. The weather’s been so brilliant and it was a great swim. It felt totally safe with all the kayaks and guard-boats.”
Fellow swimmer Catherine Brown was equally effusive. Reflecting on her experience she said: “We’ve had a great time – it’s been a lot of fun.”
Owing to the various work and family commitments of the group, Saturday was the first time that they had all swum together: “We’ve usually trained in small groups because it’s not easy to get nineteen people together at the same time.”
Asked whether the swim had lived up to her expectations, Catherine said that the weather had ensured that it “wasn’t a hardship at all”. She added: “We couldn’t have wished for better conditions. I would go so far as to say that the water was mildly warm! ”
After the huge success of this event it would seem that future sea swim fundraising campaigns are a distinct possibility. Catherine said: “I can’t speak for the whole group, but yes, I would definitely like to take part in more swims like this in the future. There has been talk of it – so watch this space!”
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