€14,000 was raised this morning during the 17th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund.
A record 330 swimmers of all ages braved the winter sea in Sliema to raise funds for charitable causes. This record number of swimmers exceeds last year's amount of 299.
Held every year since 1999 under the patronage of the President of the Republic, this year marks the 17th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim.
The swimmers varied in age: Alfred Abela and Wilfred Pirotta, both 79 years old, were the oldest male swimmers while the youngest male participant was Benji Scranz, age 5. Victoria Simmons was the oldest female swimmer, at 77, and Eva Testa, aged 1 year and eight months, was the youngest female participant.
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca thanked everyone for their support to the Malta Community Chest Fund. She commended Thomas Smith Group for organising the Charity Swim on an annual basis and thanked the Company for contributing towards the final amount donated. The President presented medals to all the 330 participating swimmers after they completed the swim.
"What started off as a bet between friends at Christmas time in 1999, has now become an annual appointment on the calendar of events of the Office of the President and Thomas Smith. The Thomas Smith Charity Swim continues to attract an ever-growing number of swimmers, expressing their solidarity and altruism by jumping into the cold sea to raise substantial sums of money for the Malta Community Chest Fund," said Joe Gerada, Managing Director at Thomas Smith Group.
Photos by David Caruana Dingli