The 14th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim raised €10,000 in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund and L-Istrina.

This morning, a record 247 swimmers braved the cold sea to swim in Sliema as a fundraising event for L-Istrina. The swimmers varied in age, from a youngest swimmer 11 years old to the eldest age registered at 76. 

President Dr George Abela was present for the start of the swim. The President thanked Thomas Smith for organising the Charity Swim on an annual basis and encouraged the swimmers before they jumped into the cold winter sea.

The Charity Swim started in 1999 as a brainchild of Mr. Anton Buttigieg and some of his friends, who showed their appreciation by collecting a small sum of money in aid of charity in return for Mr. Buttigieg’s winter swim during the Christmas season 13 years ago.

Ever since those early days, the Charity Swim continued to develop and grow year on year through the constant support of Thomas Smith. The company donates a financial contribution to top up the final amount collected and provides financial and human resources for all logistics and organizational requirements.

Over the course of the last 14 years, the Thomas Smith Charity Swim continued to attract an ever-growing number of swimmers, which has continued to increase in every edition held since 1999, thus helping to raise substantial sums of money for L-Istrina.

“Held under the patronage of the President of the Republic, the Charity Swim has become an annual appointment on the Thomas Smith calendar of events. It is an honour for the Thomas Smith Group to assist the Office of the President in raising funds for those members of our society in need of help” said Anton Buttigieg, General Manager of Thomas Smith Port Agency.

The 2012 Thomas Smith Charity Swim was supported by the Sliema Local Council, Civil Protection Department, European Commission Representation in Malta, Malta Red Cross, Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit, Giorgio’s Coffee Shop and Nestlé.

Thomas Smith is a group of companies offering a diversified portfolio of services in shipping, logistics, and insurance. With operations in Malta, Libya and Tunisia, Thomas Smith Group leverages Malta’s strategic location to provide a host of professional and logistics services for individuals, SME’s and industry.