€12,000 were raised this morning during the 16^th edition of the Thomas Smith Charity Swim in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund and L-Istrina.

The swim has been held every year since 1999.

This morning, 252 swimmers braved the cold sea in Sliema to raise funds for L-Istrina. 50 girls and women and 202 boys and men took part.

President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca with the oldest swimmers, Wilfred Pirotta (left) and Alfred Abela (right), both aged 78. Picture: Kenneth Ellul.

The swimmers varied in age: Julia Testa Bickle, 4 years old was the youngest registered participant while Alfred Abela and  Wilfred Pirotta, both 78 years old, were the oldest.

In a brief address to the swimmers before they jumped into the cold sea, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca thanked everyone for their support to the Malta Community Chest Fund and L-Istrina. She commended Thomas Smith Group for organising the swim on an annual basis and thanked the company for contributing towards the final amount donated. The President presented medals to all the 252 participating swimmers after they completed the swim. 

Joe Gerada, together with Anton Buttigieg, Port Agency General Manager and Liana Cachia, Marketing Manager – the team behind the organisation and coordination of the Thomas Smith Christmas Charity Swim – will present the funds to President Coleiro Preca at San Anton Palace in early January.

Picture: Kenneth Ellul.

The 2014 Thomas Smith Charity Swim was supported by the Sliema Local Council, Civil Protection Department, Malta Red Cross, Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit, St John’s Ambulance, Malta Police Force, Streetcom, Drinks n’ More, Joe Bonnici & Sons, X-Zone, H2Only, Għaqda Dilettanti Sajd Sliema, Għaqda Armar San Ġiljan, A&M Printing, Sign-It, Visual Trends, Studio 7 as well as many other supporters.