Well done to everyone that took part in the Level Water Dusk to Dawn swimming event last weekend. 180+ swimmers took part in 34 teams.
The team at Level Water have confirmed that the event raised more than £28,000 – the equivalent of nearly 2,000 swimming lessons for disabled children.
Thank you to everyone that secured sponsorship.
Here’s a summary of the event and some quotes from those involved in its organisation.
Level Water CEO, Ian Thwaites led the swimmer briefing at 6:30pm. It was an emotional day for him as Jesus Green Lido is the place he started his swimming journey. He took some of his first strokes here as a boy, lifeguarded the pool as a teenager, and has now returned as an adult to run an event that will benefit thousands of disabled children in Cambridge and beyond. Three generations of the Thwaites family swam at Dusk till Dawn: his mum Anne, his wife Jo, and his oldest daughter Tiger-Lily. It was touching to see how much this event means to him. After Ian’s briefing, the first swimmers were ready to enter the water.
At 7pm swimmers began their first lap of the Level Water buoys. Unlike lane swimming, there was space to spread out and enjoy the blissfully cool water after the heat of the day. Swimmers changed over according to their own schedules, every hour coming together to celebrate closing in on the 12-hour goal.
As night fell, the lights came on around the pool. The calm of the night brought a kind of magic to each stroke. Swimmers and supporters chatted in muted voices as some settled into tents pitched poolside – with some grabbing some much needed sleep during the early hours.
As the sun rose around 4am, another beautiful day dawned over Jesus Green, and the swimmers knew they were finally on the home stretch. At 6am, all team members were invited to swim together to round off 12 incredible hours. The crowd gathered at the head of the pool to cheer each team and the two solo swimmers who had achieved the amazing feat of swimming through the night alone.
Hugs were exchanged, memories made, and swimmers dried off for the final time, packed up tents, and said their goodbyes.
Ian Thwaites, CEO of Level Water, commented: “The longest day of the year was also the hottest – this year’s summer solstice fell on 21 June. What better weekend for our first ever Dusk till Dawn swim at Jesus Green Lido. The commitment and resilience it takes to wake at 3am and put on a cold swimming costume or wetsuit shouldn’t be underestimated. Every penny of sponsorship was well-earned as swimmers embraced the epic challenge of a full night of swimming. Thank you to the Friends of Jesus Green Lido, the lido staff, the lifeguards, the volunteers, all the swimmers – and the little boy who spray painted a Level Water logo on his t-shirt.”
Oli Abrantes, Duty Manager at Jesus Green Lido, said: “We were thrilled to host the Dusk till Dawn swim at Jesus Green Lido in support of Level Water, and we’re incredibly proud of the 34 teams who swam through the night in relay for 12 hours. The event got off to a fantastic start with a performance by the local Chesterton Community College Folk Fiddle Band, setting a brilliant tone for the night. The atmosphere was inspiring, with swimmers of all ages and abilities coming together for a fantastic cause. Raising an incredible amount for Level Water will help provide life-changing swimming lessons for children with disabilities, and we’re so grateful to everyone who took part and supported the event.”
Nicky Blanning, from The Friends of Jesus Green Lido and a participant in the swim, said: “This was an amazing event, brilliantly organised, with a great atmosphere on the longest day involving many swimmers who were participating at the lido for the first time. We all wished to support the charity, Level Water, and the fantastic work they do arranging lessons for children with disabilities. It was exciting, challenging and fun!”
Read the Cambridge Independent write up of the event: https://premium.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/level-water-swim-at-jesus-green-lido-cambridge-raises-char-9422759
See more pictures on the Level Water website here: https://www.levelwater.org/stories/a-solstice-challenge-for-change