Aquatics community unites with incredible gestures to support NHS

Members of the aquatics community across the country have shown their incredible generosity by raising thousands of pounds to support the NHS.

Adam Peaty has used his profile to make a telling difference during the coronavirus lockdown, taking on a number of fundraising initiatives.

The Olympic champion raffled the swimming trunks he wore to win the 100m Breaststroke gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games.

That raffle, organised by Adam Peaty Race Clinics and Swimming Events, raised more than £13,000, which will be donated directly to the NHS to purchase essential equipment required to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

100Km DOWN! That was a lot harder than I thought, so sorry I had technical problems at 20km in, fixed by 57km but couldn’t work my way back to the leaders! A huge thankyou to everyone that was involved, it’s great to see so many people (over 500) come together! pic.twitter.com/LynPWq2x4M

— Adam Peaty MBE (@adam_peaty) April 8, 2020

Peaty also rode 100 kilometres in his garden as part of a community exercise challenge to support NHS staff, volunteers and patients.

Ryan Richardson set out to raise £500 for his 100 mile run/cycle, but Peaty’s support added more than £4,000 to help close in on the new target of £20,000.

Derventio eXcels

The Derbyshire-based Derventio eXcel smashed through its target in less than a day after setting up Challenge 2020.

To mark what would have been the start of the Olympic trials, head coach Jamie Main challenged the swimmers and their family and friends to complete 2020 swim strokes either in a pool, using swim cords or by doing step ups.

Completed my #Challenge2020 for @hospitalcharity#NHSheroes a cause close to my heart. The people who work on the front line are facing the biggest challenges everyday. Thank you @NHS 🌈https://t.co/CqwqEc7XMnpic.twitter.com/IhXRwrPEYB

— Mia Slevin (@mia_slevin) April 14, 2020

Challenge 2020 has now raised more than £2,250 for Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity as Derventio shows its support for the NHS.

Derventio’s Jacob Whittle and Mia Slevin were among the dozens of swimmers to complete the task, which reached as far as Scotland thanks to British swimmer Katie Shanahan.

Scrubbing up

Parents from Dive London Aquatics Club – the home of many of Britain’s Olympic divers – are contributing to an incredible initiative to support NHS staff.

‘For the love of scrubs’ was set up to raise money for the making of scrubs for hospitals in the south west.

After raising more than £7,500 to make 1,000 scrubs, the gofundme page has now received £10,000 in donations.

The parents from Dive London and many others across London and Kent are in the process of building the vital equipment to give to NHS volunteers.

Making a difference

There are many proud parents watching their children do their bit to support charities and raise awareness.

Fiona Corby’s daughter, Ellie, rode 100 kilometres on a bike in her garage in Somerset.

Ellie raised £50 for the NHS, adding another £50 to Adam Peaty’s raffle.

She is also on the local community volunteer list, ready to help vulnerable people and those in self-isolation.

Wierd one but my son has joined his computer with over 700,000 others and they are “folding” to simulate the covid-19 proteins, by combining them all the simulations work faster. He is also printing face masks on his 3D printer. He didn’t know what else he could do.

— Julie bryan (@Juliebryan18) April 9, 2020

Meanwhile, Julie Bryan’s son has used his computer skills to help find a cure for COVID-19.

He has joined almost one million other people online in trying to simulate protein folding, which contributes to a greater understanding of the virus.

We would love to hear all the positive things being done by the aquatics community during the coronavirus lockdown.

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