A Swim Education Team Leader at Christchurch City Council’s Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool is taking part in this year’s Big Swim to raise money for Coastguard – a nationwide volunteer organisation committed to preventing drownings and promoting safe boating.
It’s the second time Lewis Elliott (pictured) has signed up for the annual fundraising event, with proceeds used to help train and equip 2000-plus volunteers as well as fuelling and maintaining rescue vessels across 62 Coastguard Units nationwide.
Participants nominate the distance they think they can swim in the month of June and ask their friends, family and colleagues to sponsor them as they clock up their swimming kilometres.
Lewis, who has been a volunteer at Sumner Coastguard for the last three years, plans to do a minimum of 25kms.
“I did the Big Swim in 2024 and swam a similar distance but had to pace myself and do a bit each day as I was still recovering from Glandular Fever,” he says.
“This time I will do a lot of it during my lunch breaks at Linwood Pool but will push myself, especially in the last week, to see how much distance I can add.”
Lewis has spent a lot of time in water during his life. He was a competitive swimmer in England and, after moving to New Zealand with his family in 2013, started surf lifesaving.
“I did surf life saving for 10 years and then three years ago switched to Coastguard. I feel like all my skills have combined now.
“At work we are proactively educating children about water safety and providing swimming lessons to help see drowning numbers on the news drop. While with Coastguard we are reactively out there helping people in emergency situations.”
He hopes Kiwis get behind the fundraising event.
“I love the way Coastguard helps the community, especially Coastguard Sumner. It’s a great crew and everyone is there to help.”
Donations to support Lewis’ Big Swim and Coastguard can be made here.
