First 24hr swim to combat disease

Alex de Vos
Competitors will swim around the clock in Geelong this weekend in the name of charity.
Organisers have designed the inaugural Geelong 24-hour Mega Swim to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis Society to help suffers realise their dreams.
Geelong’s Deborah Haygarth, who was diagnosed with MS in 2000, urged residents to participate in the charity event.
“We’d like to raise $100,000 for the MS Gold Scholarship Program, which helps people with MS follow their dreams,” Ms Haygarth said.
“They might want to travel or study and this program will give them money to make it happen.”
Ms Haygarth said participants in the 24-hour swim would set up camp at Kardinia Aquatic Centre and operate as relay teams in the pool.
“We’re encouraging people to get teams together and swim as far as possible in the 24 hours,” Ms Haygarth said.
“Bring a tent, your friends and family and have some fun.”
Ms Haygarth said the event was also aimed at educating the community about the degenerative disease.
“The Mega Swim is a great way for people to come along and meet people with MS and see what it’s all about,” she said.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that randomly attacks the central nervous system.
Ms Haygarth described symptoms as unpredictable, ranging from paralysis to fatigue.
“I’ve slowly been getting worse over the past 10 years,” she said.
“The disease has affected my mobility and I find it difficult to tolerate the heat.”
Ms Haygarth said she was getting on with life thanks to the help of her family.
“I’ve got a great partner who has been really supportive, three grown children and four grandchildren,” she said.
“They know grandma is sick but they love me all the same.”