Robert Allison, senior vice-president of the Salisbury Rotary Club with Jill Brown and her dog Yates, Phillip Cheverall and Laura Giddings at the swimathon. 10/2/5SALISBURY Rotary Club members went poolside last Friday to publicise the club's first ever fundraising swimathon, planned for April.

And helping them to promote the event, at the city's Godolphin School pool, were Salisbury swimmer Phillip Cheverall, who competed in the Deaflympics in Melbourne, Godolphin pupil Laura Giddings and disabled Jill Brown, and her assistance dog Yates.

The Rotary Club swimathon will take place at the Godolphin pool from 9am-6pm on Saturday, April 9, and the money raised will go to Dogs for the Disabled, Peggy and Friends - a local charity providing prosthetic limbs - and other charities supported by Salisbury Rotary.

Teams consisting of five or more members will swim as many 25m lengths as possible in an allotted 55-minute stint.

Each team will swim continuously with only one member of the team in the water at any time. This may be done through relay or by simply assigning a time slot to each member.

Mandy Giddings set up the Peggy and Friends charity in March 2000, after her daughter Laura lost a leg in a terrorist bomb attack, in South Africa, and had a prosthetic limb fitted. Mandy said: "We had no where to turn and no support."

The charity was established to provide practical advice based on personal experience. It is run from Mandy's home and is promoted at and by limb centres and hospitals.

Laura Giddings is a member of Godolphin School swimming team and hopes to become a full-time athlete.

Jill Brown is swimming to support Dogs for the Disabled, a charity close to her heart.

Her dog Yates helps her to dress, opens doors, collects post and even puts small items in the washing machine for her. "He's an absolute lifeline," said Jill.

Rotary Club vice president Robert Allison said of the swimathon: "We are hoping to raise as much as possible but it depends on how many sponsors each person gets. We are hoping to have 36 teams in total."

Deaf swimmer Phillip Cheverall has had financial support from the Rotary Club in his swimming career and sees the forthcoming event as "a chance to repay them and also help those in need".

Anyone wanting to take part in the swimathon, or who would like more information, should contact Ron Millar, on 01722 328283 or email Ron.Millarvirgin.net.