Mildenhall Pool raises over £1400 for breast cancer care

People from Mildenhall and the surrounding area have raised over £1400 for Breast Cancer Care thanks to the ‘In the Pink’ campaign at Mildenhall Swimming Pool organised by 14 year old local school boy, Matt Hamill.

Over the last two weeks, staff at the pool have all been wearing pink and have been busy selling cakes, organising raffles and getting sponsorship. The Pink Water Workout was well supported by local ladies and raised around £300. Local businesses have really joined in by donating money or raffle prizes including Milpets, Lloyds Chemist, Bussens and Parkins, Langtons Flowers, Zoggs Swimwear, Sainsbury, and Stebbeds Shoes. Staff, customers, the Rotary Club, Trustee Ann Greenwood and Councillor Nigel Roman also contributed prizes along with Jill Thompson who designed and made two special fascinators (decorative hair pieces). Regular customer, Gladys Johnson, who had raised money for autism during her 90th birthday sponsored swim, donated a fruit cake for customers to guess the weight and win as a prize.

The highlight of the campaign was the 10 mile Tow For Life lifesaving swim last Thursday which was completed in relay by staff and the Bronze Medallion Group towing a person up and down the Pool. The Tow started at 6.15am and the team hit the 10 mile target by 3.45pm that afternoon but they carried on until 4.10pm and towed a staggering 11 miles. To cap off the event, staff produced a pink swimming cap, donated by Zoggs, which had been stretched for Matt to climb inside.

Debbie Feltner at Mildenhall Swimming Pool says: “This has been one of the best campaigns we have ever run for charity and our thanks go out to staff, customers and businesses who have supported us. This just goes to show what a great community spirit we have here in Mildenhall and we hope it has encouraged even more local people to come along to the Pool and become a part of things. It’s been hard work but well worth it.”