Multiple Sclerosis Super Splash

2024 North Mackay Sinkers Masters Fundraiser Multiple Sclerosis Super Splash

It’s been a busy month for the club with our fantastic Whitehaven Beach swim followed by the MS Super Splash on Saturday October 12^th, and what a splash it was! 2024 marks the 9^th Multiple Sclerosis fundraising event for the North Mackay Sinkers since 2015. It’s our major community event and provides an opportunity for members to support the Multiple Sclerosis Qld fundraising event while participating in our favourite sporting endeavour.

This year the event was renamed the MS Super Splash and it was an action-packed fundraising challenge. The event is held in different locations across Queensland, supporting people living with MS. Eight MS Super Splash events are being held across the state in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Toowoomba Region, Moreton Bay, Central Queensland, Mackay and Townsville.

We enjoyed the support of 20 registered club swimmers who participated on Saturday October 12^th at the fantastic Memorial pool in the revised 8-hour format. A total of 6 teams and 70 participants combined raising a total of $20,830, up an impressive $4,000 from the 2023 event. The Sinkers raised a grand total of $11,449 this year alone in a 10-week campaign. Club members filled 6 of the top 10 spots for individual fundraising reflecting the support for this event. In addition to individual fundraising efforts the Club held a Sausage sizzle and a battery drive and other innovative activities that added to the total. To date our progressive club total is $63,465 raised across all 9 years of involvement, with a new Club PB tantalisingly close. Donations remain open for another month and can be made here if people still wish to contribute.

DMR Leisure hosted the day at our favourite pool, the Memorial Swim Centre and a fabulous band kept us entertained with crowd favourites for hours before the day’s activities concluded with official presentations to participating teams. Great effort by all teams that in addition to the Sinkers included DMR Leisure Pty Ltd, Muscle Garden, Mackay MS Super Splash lane, Polar Bears and the Life in Motion Exercise Physiology Clinic teams.

Since the MS Swimathon commenced, various Masters clubs have participated with the Cairns Mudcrabs leading the way in 2011. Our collective efforts have raised over $125,000 for Multiple Sclerosis Qld. Well done to all clubs involved. Currently the Toowoomba event is scheduled for November 16^th and the Toowoomba Tadpoles have lined up to swim and fundraise.

Swimmers were kept amused by activities including the Hour of Power where the Sinkers swam 80 laps and gained a second place. Other events included a 50m dash, a 200m duck relay and a 1-hour duck relay. The Sinkers swam a total of 478 (24 km) laps at a more casual pace this year content to let their fundraising take centre stage.

The annual MS Swimathon events are held regionally throughout Queensland giving the opportunity for further involvement by community and sporting clubs that may choose to participate. They are run over a financial year with up to nine events scheduled to take place in 2025.

This is the last fundraiser for the club in 2024 and combined with the Starlight Super Swim and Laps for Life members have raised a collective $20,094 across the 3 events to mark a stellar year in community activities and fundraising.

Our club highly recommends that community and sporting clubs consider participating in what is an opportunity to be community minded in our chosen sport. Interested clubs can contact the author for more details via mobile on 0413 805 156 or email at prs.nthmkysinkers@gmail.com You can also register your interest or approach Multiple Sclerosis Qld direct at 07 3840 0812 or email swimathon@msqld.org.au.

 

Dan Stampa,

President, North Mackay Sinkers

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