A fundraising event to celebrate a long-serving and much-loved swimming teacher has attracted waves of support.
Eastern Leisure Centre hosted a fundraising event last weekend for the Llandough Lung Cancer Care Unit, in support of Cardiff Council employee Shirley Bourge.
Over £2,600 was raised on the day with many donations still being collected. Shirley was delighted with the turn out and thrilled that people had raised a fantastic amount of money for charity.
Shirley is a popular character and has been a familiar face around the city’s swimming pools, teaching people of all ages and levels to swim for almost 30 years. During this time she has taught lifesaving classes and started a disability swimming club at Eastern Leisure Centre which has gone from strength to strength.
In March 2008, Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer and after many months of treatment was given the all-clear. However in February 2010 Shirley received the bad news that she has mesothelioma cancer, a form of lung cancer, and is terminally ill.
Staff at Eastern Leisure Centre appealed for people to get involved in the fun, whether it was to join in the sponsored swim or donate to the cause, especially all those who have been taught by Shirley or worked with her over the years.
There was an overwhelming response with over 60 entries for the sponsored swim with a large crowd of supporters.
Two charity netball matches took place with the first for children aged 7 to eleven followed by the senior teams, Llanrumney Incredibles and Old Illtyds battling it out
For a small donation visitors were invited to join in one of the many activities on offer including basketball and wheelchair basketball skills, softplay and inflatables, arts and crafts, face painting and trampolining. There was also a charity spin class which was very popular.
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “I am thrilled at the response to this fundraising event. Shirley has made an outstanding contribution to the swimming development programme in Cardiff and it is wonderful that so many people turned up to support her and the Llandough Lung Cancer Care Unit. I hope that the money raised can make a difference.
“A big thank you to all of the organisers at Eastern Leisure Centre.”
