Oban Lifesavers make a splash at sponsored swim
Oban Lifesavers Club members raised £2,873 for the swimming group’s funds at their annual sponsored swim.
And two swimmers have been awarded prizes for their commitment throughout the year.
Oban Lifesavers is run by volunteers. For £1.50 a session, the club teaches children to swim and educates them on water safety and lifesaving skills.
The club has 104 swimmers and at the start of October they swam 1,708 lengths, the equivalent of 42,700 metres, to raise funds.
The money will go towards running costs and keeping the sessions accessible to everyone.
Volunteer teacher Francesca Bichard said: “We want to keep the fees affordable and if anyone is struggling we always help them.”
The club is grateful to the guardians who arranged sponsorship for their children and the many parents who helped out on the sidelines by marking down the number of lengths on tally sheets.
On the same evening as the sponsored swim, the club ran its annual badge night, where swimmers tried to achieve the furthest distance they could without stopping or touching their feet on the ground. The youngest swimmers gave the challenge their best shot and tried to achieve their 10m badge in the small pool.
Each year, the club awards the Kayla MacDonald Shield to a swimmer who has shown extraordinary determination and the prize was presented at a club session on Tuesday October 29.
This year’s joint winners were Robin Haddock-Farrier, aged 17, and Riley Anderson, 14, who have both recently completed their Rookie Lifeguard Gold Award - the highest award swimmers can reach at the club.
The annual award is presented in memory of Kayla MacDonald, aged eight, from Dunbeg, who died in an accident in 2017. Kayla was a member of Oban Lifesavers and her brother, Ronnie MacDonald, presented the shield to the winners.
Francesca said: “It’s to keep her memory alive. We award it to youngsters who have overcome difficulties or put in extra effort. These boys have come along every week and have worked so hard.”
The boys now plan to return to the club as assistant swimming teachers.
The club meets at Atlantis Leisure, Oban, every Tuesday during term time from 5pm to 8pm and is looking for more volunteers. You do not need to be able to swim to help poolside.
If you are interested in volunteering or want to inquire about your child joining the club, visit the Oban Lifesavers Club Facebook page or email obanlifesavers@hotmail.com.
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