Lisburn City Swimmers have been making waves in a week of sponsored swimming to raise funds for their club and local learning disability charity Positive Futures. Their sponsored swim week, which took place from 10-16 November 2008 at Lisburn Leisureplex, was a truly inclusive event involving almost 800 swimmers. Participants included Performance Scheme swimmers who are learning to swim - including children with a learning disability from Positive Futures’ Lisburn Families Service – and club swimmers from junior to international standard.

During the event, swimmers took to the pool at all hours from 5.30am to 8.15pm, ‘clocking up’ over 5600 Kilometers – the circumference of Ireland. Every stroke was sponsored and participants received information about the work of Positive Futures.             

Hilary Idzikowska, Lisburn City Swimmers’ Coordinator of Swimming Performance, suggested the partnership with Positive Futures:

‘Nearly all our club swimmers come from Lisburn and we are keen to help our local community alongside our own essential fundraising efforts. Positive Futures is a fantastic organisation and young people from Positive Futures are enthusiastic performance swimmers, so it seemed like a natural partnership. It’s good for able-bodied swimmers to see the challenges that others face, accept swimmers from all backgrounds and encourage everyone to achieve their potential.’

The initiative raised a total of £2700 and – on behalf of the Club - Lisburn City Teletots presented Positive Futures with a cheque for £1350 at their recent Teletots Gala.