Selsey 81 year-old breaks personal best for Ukraine and makes further appeal
November 5 saw 81-year-old Julian Lindsey Clark swim an extraordinary 2.5 miles at the Oasis Swimming Pool, Seal Bay Resort in Selsey and raise £5,000 for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The aid will be sent to vulnerable families and communities affected by the war and provided via New Forest for Ukraine, the Hampshire based charity.
He swam an impressive 152 lengths of the 25-metre pool over the course of three-and-a-half hours, totalling 2.5 miles, and surpassed his previous personal best. Along with nine other swimmers, just over £5,000 was raised through sponsorship and donations. Julian’s fellow swimmers each swam between 20 and 100 lengths in pools across the South of England.
Julian said afterwards: ”I want to extend heartfelt thanks to the swimmers’ families and friends for their generosity and encouragement, as well as to the many anonymous donors whose contributions were invaluable. Their collective dedication highlights a strong sense of community and a shared commitment to helping families affected by the war in Ukraine.
"I also want to send special thanks to the Oasis at Seal Bay, Selsey Lions, Chichester Rotary, The Selsey Club, The Hopp Inn, The Seal, Selsey Folk & Music Club, Sussex Grange, and the parishioners of Our Lady and the Saints of Sussex for their vital support of the event.
"The funds raised will help cover the cost of delivering a ten-tonne load of humanitarian aid into Ukraine. These deliveries support hubs where displaced families receive essential items, including warm clothing, blankets, medical supplies, toiletries, portable stoves with gas for hot meals during power cuts, and generators.
"I hope it shows you can make a difference, whatever your age. So I’d like to encourage anyone who wants to support Ukraine in any way to think of contacting New Forest for Ukraine to provide support or to help fund-raise as they have just begun a campaign to raise £40,000 this winter to provide critical supplies like generators, portable stoves and first aid.”
For further information on New Forest For Ukraine (Charity No. 1208709), please visit www.newforestforukraine.org or you can also donate by text: send NFFU5 to 70255 to donate £5 or NFFU10 to 70255 to donate £10.