Burghead Boxing Day Swim raises thousands for Marie Curie, Burghead Sub Aqua Club and Kieran's Legacy
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BURGHEAD Boxing Day Swim has raised a "huge" £12,000 for three charities.
Marie Curie received £5000, while Kieran's Legacy and Burghead Sub Aqua Club were given £3500 each.
The amount received by all charities was given a large boost after an event supporter, who wishes to remain anonymous, donated £1500 last week.
Burghead Boxing Day Swim president Jamie Campbell is delighted with the amount raised.
He said: "We are over the moon with the total – and it got bumped up a bit, too, so we are pleased with that.
"The money will be most welcome for the charities just now. Marie Curie have put the money to use already.
"It gets more and more difficult every year to get people to turn up for the swim. People's pockets are getting a bit tighter and we understand that.
"We are very grateful to everybody that donated and everybody who took part. It was a huge amount of money to raise and we hope they will continue to support us."
The Boxing Day Swim, which saw 60 swimmers take part, raised £1500 through raffles. Gleaner Oil in Elgin also donated £400.
Last year, £21,500 was raised – which was the second most the swim has ever raised. The two years prior saw £9000 and £7500 raised respectively.
There remains hope that the swim will go ahead this year, with coronavirus restrictions expected to be eased by Boxing Day.
Mr Campbell added: "We don't normally plan the swim until August. At the moment it will be going ahead as normal.
"We will be listening to all the advice from the Scottish Government and won't be putting the general public or swimmers at risk.
"There is no nice time for anything like the coronavirus pandemic to happen but we have been lucky with the timing of it regarding the swim."
Sixty take plunge in Boxing Day Swim.
