Child, lady join brave men in charity swim

As the cold southwest winds blew over the Sliema quay, 30 brave people yesterday shed their warm clothing and dived into the sea to raise money for the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The sun peeked through the clouds as 26 men, three women and a young girl jumped into the sea spurred on by President Guido de Marco and a large crowd that assembled to support the swimmers.

The oldest person to dive into the sea, which had a temperature of 18 degrees, was 68-year-old sportsman and broadcaster Charlie Mock. The youngest was seven-year-old Rebecca Perry.

The President's ADC, Major David Mifsud, was among those who took the plunge and got his circulation going. The swimmers were offered a tot of whisky to warm up when they came up again, excluding, of course, young Rebecca.

Their efforts were rewarded with the collection of Lm601, rounded up to Lm1,000 by shipping and insurance company Thomas Smith, which organises this annual swim.

The event started on Christmas eve of 1998 when Anton Buttigieg, general manager of Thomas Smith, was drinking and "thinking" at the Plough and Anchor Pub, in Sliema. "I told those present that if everyone gave up Lm2 for charity I would jump into the sea. It was a dare and I collected Lm30, a sum which was then doubled by the pub," he recalled.

The year after, two more swimmers joined Mr Buttigieg in this challenge and together they raised Lm95.

The event has now gained momentum and yesterday there was a record number of people who joined Mr Buttigieg, including the first women and the first child to do so.

The Plough and Anchor Pub supports this annual event by making a generous donation.