On Friday April 2 twenty-four people swam for 24 hours at Bega Memorial Swimming Pool to raise money for Bega cancer support charity Can Assist.
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The day went off without a hit and people from all over the community came down to the pool to cheer the swimmers on and donate money to the charity.
"Lots of people came down throughout the day and gave $50 notes and $20 and $10 notes," said Zoe Philipzen who runs the pool with her husband Mark.
The initial goal set out by the swimmers was to raise $2400, with each swimmer's goal being to raise $100.
In the end they far exceeded that number and were able to raise $7000 with the help of the community and local businesses.
"Everyone just came out of the woodwork and it was a real community thing. Rosie from Baker's Delight came down with cheese and bacon rolls and free food... everyone just made dips, cheese and bickies and just sat down and had a cuppa tea."
The swimmers also stepped up, with 16 year old swimmer Indi Cook raising $300 in raffle tickets that she sold with the prize being an Easter egg basket donated from Woolworths.
"It was awesome to start the event was such a good feeling."
"There was 24 of us there, we all got our photos, everyone was setting up their beds for the night, people just bought in their swags and camped out all over the pool grounds which was so good."
The day was a toasty 27 degrees which was appreciated by the swimmers and a fire pit was set up during the evening swims to keep them warm and maintain high morale.
"During the [late hours of the] night there was always about 6 or 6 people up.
"There was two people swimming constantly in the pool for 24 hours. Everyone just got in and did the job."
During the evening, Ms Philipzen said that parents of the young swimmers came down to watch and even her and Mark's 6 year old son Henry came at 2am to watch dad swim and cook marshmallows.
"It was just the mental thing, between 11pm and 5am most people had to do two swims in that time and it was just the mental preparation of getting swimmers on and actually getting in the pool and swimming.
"Everyone would be there and they would be just clapping for people when they finished and it was such a community thing," said Ms Philipzen.
A couple of people from Can Assist were also present during the 24 hour marathon. They assisted with keeping spirits high and writing out receipts.
At midday on Saturday April 3, the money was presented to Can Assist on behalf of the swimmers and community.
"They were so stoked, with COVID they haven't been able to fundraise.
"They are helping all these people with cancer with helping pay their bills, medications and transportation and so a lot of money is going out and not much is coming in."
Can Assist also presented the swimmers with a certificate with all of their names on it which is now up in the Bega Pool clubhouse.
"All the swimmers swam 20 minutes straight 6 times straight over a 24 hour period.
"All together we swam 161km which was 4828 laps," said Ms Philipzen.