Swimmers lit up Ellerton Lake with illuminated tow floats as they took to the water at sunset to raise money for a children’s cancer charity.
The sunset swim, held at the lake near Scorton on Saturday, September 26, was organised by the TeamLuke Foundation, which raises awareness and funds research into neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer.
Participants set off at dusk, with a choice of 500m, 1km and 2km distances.
Among those taking part was Alicia, who said the swim had a special significance for her family.
“It was absolutely wonderful and really refreshing,” she said.
“This is the first time we have taken part in an organised swim. My mum had seen the article about the swim in the paper and my dad had died from a brain tumour, so this is in honour of him.”
Medi Usanase described swimming after dark as “a bit unnerving” but said it had been an enjoyable experience.
Lorna Jones was taking part in her first such event since undergoing a hip operation.
“The swim was brilliant,” she said. “It was a bit exhausting since it was the first time I have done something like this since my hip operation.
“Once you get in and start swimming, the temperature is not too bad.”
The TeamLuke Foundation was established in memory of Darlington youngster Luke Bell, who died from neuroblastoma in 2018.
Foundation chairman Mark Bell said the support from people who had no previous connection with the charity was particularly moving.
“It takes it to a different level when you get complete strangers turning up and wanting to support the Foundation through events like this,” he said.
“It validates why we do what we do and allows us to do more work through the Foundation, which ultimately allows us to continue our fight against children’s cancer.”
Mark said Luke, who loved swimming, would have been “blown away” by the event.
The volunteer-run foundation has donated more than £100,000 since it was established and funds a research post at the Institute of Cancer Research.
Anouska Roger-Smith, taking part for the third year, said: “The swim was amazing, a perfect evening and the water temperature was nice.
“It gets bigger each year. It is great to support the charity and important that more people get involved.”
More information is available from the TeamLuke Foundation website.
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