Swimmers raise $25,000 for public health facility in Barbados

Hi all,

I just got an email from our swimming buddies in Barbados about a great marathon swim they just did there!  Have a read, sounds awesome, especially this time of year!  Congrats!

PS. Thanks Simon for publishing the story in H2Open magazine too!

Cheers,

Rob

Simon Griffiths | H2Open Editor | Monday 27 January 2014

Open water swimming is becoming ever more popular in Barbados. Last year saw the creation of an open water festival and this was followed on 21 January this year by the Summit Charity Challenge Swim, which raised in excess of $25,000.John Howard, a UK born Barbadian resident and avid swimmer, developed the casual idea into a swim for charity and training began in earnest in November 2013. Others involved include Peter Gibbs, a veteran swimmer, triathlete, runner and Lake Ontario Swimmer; John Mike Peterkin; Geoff Farmer; Zary Evelyn and others. Adam Cripwell, a South African “Iron man” currently on a work contract in Barbados also joined in.

The charity arm of the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA charity) stepped up to the plate to sponsor the swim and from there followed Howard’s employer, Summit International Bank, and numerous other companies and individuals.

At four in the morning, in total darkness, on 21 January, a public holiday in Barbados, John Mike Peterkin (60) and Peter Gibbs (66), started swimming near South Point lighthouse close to the most southern tip of the island of Barbados.  They swam 7km to St Lawrence Gap where John Howard, Adam Cripwell, Zary Evelyn and others jumped in to start a swim trek up the west coast of the island. Swimmers achieved varying distances, from 5 km to 33km, the latter taking two swimmers to the north of the island.

“The west coast of Barbados, often referred to as the platinum coast, provides wonderful swimming conditions with placid waters, beautiful reefs and endless sea life,” says Kristina Evelyn, one of the organisers of the Barbados Open Water Festival. “The swimmers swam around the island’s capital city, the Deep Water Harbour, through two marine parks, past the world famous Sandy Lane Hotel and historic Holetown towards the final destination at the upscale marina development of Port St Charles. Family, friends, swimmers and trustees from the charity gathered at Port St Charles to welcome the two who swam nonstop from the south coast to the north: John Howard (25km) and John Mike Peterkin (33km).  The two arrived at 6:15pm, having spent 12 and 14 hours in the water respectively.  It was an amazing personal achievement for them and has resulted in funds raised to purchase much needed equipment for one of the island’s ‘free’ clinics.”

Find out more about open water swimming options in Barbados: http://www.swimbarbadosvacations.com