Issue 155

Student's 2km swim for Filippino charity

08th May 2007

Swansea student, Alastair Smith is raising money for charity by doing a 2km swim between Caswell and Langland Bay in the Gower.

Smith, a second year Marine Biology student, is raising money for the Philippines Playground Project, a charity set up after a flood caused a landslide that destroyed the entire Guinsaugon Village in Southern Leyte, Philippines. Over 950 people were killed in the tragedy, 284 of them were children. The initiative aims to build a playground in one of the new villages currently being built in the province of St Bernard, for the children who have experienced a great loss and a struggled through a disastrous tragedy.

Smith has already raised £200 of his aimed total of £500. Smith was surprised at the amount of support he has had, "I've raised over £200 without trying that hard so hopefully I should be able to make MY target, maybe more, as much as I can really!" Smith is helping out the charity as much as he can and is even going out to the Philippines to actively help out with the project.

Smith chose the charity after having visited the exact village a year before the natural disaster happened. He went to the Philippines on his gap year and visited Southern Leyte where he embarked on a diving project.

Smith says that his fundraiser is "not a normal swim." He will be sporting a monofin, a large single fin worn on both feet, together with a wet suit and snorkel. Smith hopes the swim will take an hour depending on the tide. Smith will also be accompanied by Dave Parker, captain of the Swansea University's canoe club, who will aid Smith should anything go wrong.

Having just competed in the British and Belgian Finswimming National Championships, coming 2nd in several sprints, Smith admits that "I have plenty of experience in the water but I've never done a long distance open-water swim in cold water like this."

Smith adds, "Our training involves plenty of long distance swims, so I think I will be fit enough for the swim. However the main problem will be the cold, I plan to do some training swims in the sea over the next couple of weeks."

Smith hopes the charity swim will also raise awareness of the sport as well as raise money for a well worth while cause.

Smith has not yet finalised a date for the fundraiser. Check the Waterfront website at, waterfrontonline.co.uk for updates on the date of the fundraiser. You can support Alastair Smith sponsoring him by going on facebook.com and joining the "Ali's Perilous Finswim!" group.

Natalie Kow