I am going way beyond my natural swimming ability to swim The Outdoor Swimming Society's 6km 'Bantham Swoosh' on 24th June 2017 to raise money for the Aveton Gifford pool. It is double the distance that I have ever swim before in what will likely be ice cold river water. So it seems like absolute madness now but please help me to reach my goal and support the local community pool by sponsoring this page.

Learning to swim at Aveton Gifford has always been essential as it is so close to the sea, and the river is part of the village. There has been a swimming pool at the village primary school since 1963, and since then over 600 children have been taught to swim. It’s always been important both for safety and for health and wellbeing, but in these days of public funding cuts and the reduction of sports in school curriculums, it’s become even more so.

Aveton Gifford is a small village and the school isn’t large either – at present there are about 100 children there. The community has taken over the running of the pool now http://www.avetongifford.co.uk/facilities/swimming-pool and they are determined to keep it open.

A message from Aveton Gifford Parish Council "We’d like to thank you all for your interest and support for our pool. We hope to inspire our own children with a love of swimming – and who knows, with your help, maybe they will be swimming the Swoosh in years to come!"