The seven Swim Aid swimmers this morning left M’Forn Gozo, starting their 30KM long swim towards Sliema. The swim is estimated to take from 10 to 12 hours depending on weather conditions. Live updates will be available on Swim Aid’s Facebook page.
The founder of Swim Aid and the founder and coach of the newly formed Silver Lining Swimming Club Simon Zammit told The Malta Independent that ever since he took up swimming as a sport some 20 years ago he hardly ever came across disabled people swimming at the national pool, which is his second home.
Silver Lining Swimming Club – a non-profit organisation - is to benefit from the funds collected. The club aims to collect some €30,000 to help fund the rental of swimming lanes at the various pools the club will be using to coach persons with physical disabilities and to help sustain the coaching expenses and equipment.
Mr Zammit said: “Some two-and-the-half years ago, I decided to start sharing my passion of swimming with disabled people.
“I had the pleasure of going overseas to see how persons cope with their disabilities.
“We only managed to attract some seven swimmers with physical disabilities up till now and our main objective is to encourage more people to win over their physical challenges while also highlighting how effective sport is in helping to develop one’s sense of purpose.
“The persons who I coach and who have physical challenges have inspired each other to do things they never dreamt they were able to do,” he pointed out.
Citing an example, he said that a girl named Vlada – who suffers from spina bifida after a structure fell on her at a discotheque some years back – inspired another person to start driving.
“Vlada is 24 years old, she went through a tough time but today she lives by herself and has her own car.
“This is what I want to see happen, have more persons take up swimming as a sport and make them realise that they can overcome their physical challenges in more ways than one.
“I tend to focus more on their abilities than their disabilities,” he continued.
These sort of challenges are not a first for Mr Zammit. Some two years ago, Mr Zammit, along with six friends of his, took up a swimming challenge to raise funds for a certain Joseph Bugeja who had lost his limbs after he was electrocuted when the crane he was manning hit an electricity cable.
“We had managed to raise enough funds to purchase a bionic arm and an electric car for him,” Mr Zammit recalled.
His first swimming challenge took place some five years ago. He had swam round Gozo with a friend of his named Sammy to raise funds to purchase two guide dogs and train them for the blind.
‘Sharks or bad weather won’t prevent us from taking up challenge’
Mr Zammit went on to say that the weather forecast for tomorrow is not looking too good but added that nothing will keep the group back from going ahead with the challenge, despite the fact that this newsroom highlighted that a two-metre-long fish was spotted in Maltese waters earlier this week.
“Persons with a disability wake up each morning to face their physical challenges; we will wake up to this challenge despite the conditions we may face,” a mentally prepared Mr Zammit said.
Mr Zammit said that some of the seven swimmers who have physical challenges will be joining them towards the end of their challenge.
The group of seven swimmers intend leaving Marsalforn, Gozo at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday morning and expect to reach Sliema pitch at 5 p.m.
Help us achieve our goal
Mr Zammit said that anyone who would like to donate funds for this initiative send their donations via SMS on 5061 8990 (€6.99) or 5061 9289 (€11.65) or by clicking on the 'Donate' button on their website www.swimaid2015.org. One can also opt to visit their Facebook page for more information on the event.