By MARC MCGOWAN
MONBULK’S redeveloped aquatic centre will host an MS 24-Hour Mega Swim event for the first time next month in a bid to raise $20,000 for research into multiple sclerosis.
Seven teams have registered so far for the 11 and 12 October event, which was first held in Victoria in 2001, and more than $7000 has been raised already.
The MS 24-Hour Mega Swim is a nation-wide team relay event and each team must have a swimmer in the water for the entire 24 hours.
Monbulk Aquatic Centre manager Aylie Spence said it was a worthy cause and invited people of all swimming abilities to take part.
“It’s an event everyone can be involved in – you can come and swim one lap or swim for an hour or two hours, or you can have a break and come back again,” Ms Spence said.
“It’s just going to be a bit of fun. If you don’t want to be competitive, you can just come down and have a great time.
“We’re really excited to raise some funds for MS.”
Ms Spence is the captain for MACtastic, a team of MAC employees. There are two more MAC staff teams: one full of swim instructors and the other is a memberships team.
There are also team entries from the Monbulk Marlins, two from Nunawading Swimming Club and another called The Hydromaniacs.
Ms Spence said the MS 24-Hour Mega Swim could become an annual event on the MAC calendar if it proved successful.
“Practice is the key. Make sure you’ve got your fitness in beforehand,” she said.
“We have lap lanes available every night and during the day, so people can come down and try out.”
Monbulk resident Don Peterson was diagnosed with MS five years ago and was grateful for events such as these.
Mr Peterson, 41, suffers from numbness on the left side of his body and the disease also affects his balance.
“There is not much doctors can do for you (at the moment). They can prolong it, but there’s no cure for it,” he said.
“I try not to dwell on it. If you dwell on it, you just don’t live … it’s just luck of the draw.
“The last year’s been pretty good. Before that there were a lot of trips to hospital and stuff like that.”
The Monbulk event starts at 1pm on Saturday, 11 October and continues until 1pm the next day.
There will be a range of activities in conjunction with the MS 24-Hour Mega Swim and catering is available for its duration.
Anyone interested in joining a team can contact Amanda on 9756 6227 or click on the Monbulk link on the MS 24-Hour Mega Swim website at http://megaswim.com/.
Donations can be made at the Monbulk Aquatic Centre website, http://www.monbulkaquatic.com.au/.
