Our • Tony and Joan Hillier sent in sponsorship donations amounting
to £1,546 in respect of the British Gas Great Salford Swim. Donations included: K L Wykes £5, D F Young £100, Miss C Young £100, Blisworth, Roade and Grange Park Surgeries £866, sponsorship for Matthew Otten £450 and another donation of £25.
On 26th September 2010 GP Tony Hillier and family friend Matthew Otten, both from Blisworth in Northamptonshire, swam the one mile route around Salford Quays in Manchester as part of the final Great Swim series organised and sponsored by British Gas. They raised just over £4000 in sponsorship money for CRY, in memory of Laura Hillier who suddenly collapsed and died on 20th June 2003 as a result of undiagnosed ARVC. They were originally going to take part in the Great North Swim on Lake Windermere, which was due to be staged on Sep 5th and 6th. Unfortunately this was cancelled due to the presence of bluegreen algae making the water unsafe for swimmers. Rather than allow the training to go to waste and so as not to disappoint all the many people that had donated sponsorship money, the pair of intrepid swimmers signed up for the Great Salford Swim, which was a new addition to the series for 2010 as well as being the last for that year. “Manchester provided a cool bracing day with early sunshine later clouding over. The water temperature was 14.5C. Wetsuits were compulsory. Even so it felt very cold when first entering the water, but after a few hundred metres and after warming up the cold wasn’t a problem. Swimmers went off in waves at half hour intervals, each with a different coloured swim hat for easy recognition. We were in separate waves just after midday. Over 2000 participants took part with over half, including us, swimming for the first time in a British Gas Swim. There were a mix of ages of both sexes as well as a range of abilities and swimming styles. Some were open water swimming enthusiasts, others swimming for the first time for charities, and those triathletes who were adding it as final fun bit of training. The now established redeveloped Quays is a very good venue for spectators wishing to follow the progress of the swimmers, with plenty of places to take photos and videos of their
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respective friends and family, in and out of the water, and creating an exciting atmosphere for all. The organisation was excellent and Channel 4 programme makers were present filming as part of a one hour documentary on the Great Salford Swim, which has since been broadcast. Our times were very respectable for a first attempt at a mile in open water, and we both had a great sense of satisfaction in finishing without mishap, and we fully intend to continue with the swims in 2011.”
The following day Tony was interviewed and filmed by Stuart Ratcliffe for BBC Look East who was particularly interested in the reasons for the swim and the work of CRY. This resulted in a news-piece later that day on the regional evening and late evening news. Two weeks earlier Tony, accompanied by Joan, had given a twenty minute radio interview in the studios of BBC Radio Northampton on the swim preparations, the work of CRY, including bereavement support and the death of Laura and SADS in general. “It was a good fortnight of publicity locally for the work of CRY.” Tony Hillier In Memory of Peter John Hinchliffe We have received a donation of £1,867.62, in lieu of floral tributes, in memory of the late Peter John Hinchliffe who passed away on 11 September 2010, aged 33 years. In Memory of Liam Hipkin Mrs J Rust sent in a donation of £700, in lieu of floral tributes, in memory of her son, Liam.
In Memory of Nicholas Holland • “Following the success of this year’s Cheshire Game and Angling Fair, I am happy to enclose a cheque for £500 for CRY.” Sonya German, Treasurer, Cheshire Game and Angling Fair.
• Peter Holland made a sponsorship donation of £520 in
respect of family and friends completing the DIFC Super Hero Run in Manchester on 26 September.
• Jill Hulme took part in the DIFC Super Hero Run in Manchester and raised £290.
CRY update • Issue 53 • 41