We Remember Them 100m x 100m Swim Relay Final

This year marks the centenary of the end of WW1 which saw over a million service men and women lose their lives. The We Remember Them campaign, founded by Simon Wright and Deane Hitchens-Orr, was created to raise money for The Royal British Legion and Horseback UK who continue to support service men and women. Throughout 2018, people have been doing extraordinary things to raise money with the 100m x 100m Swim Relay Final, sponsored by Zoggs International, no exception.

We Remember Them main 2

We Remember Them cap close up

We Remember Them diving board

Swimmers from all over the country participated in the relay which took place at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield. As well as the relay itself, one of the highlights were the divers who dived from the 10 metre board with a union jack flag. Those wanting to remember someone (more information here) could add a name to a poppy card which was added to a poppy waterfall which continues to grow. The day also included live music poolside, trombone blowing, pirate games and treasure hunts and a WW1 backpack challenge.

All donations collected on the day will go to the Royal British Legion and Horseback UK. The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, reservists, veterans, and their families. HorseBack UK is a Scotland-based charity that uses horsemanship to inspire recovery, regain self-esteem to the wounded, injured and sick of the military community.

We Remember Them banner

We Remember Them hat

We Remember Them Simon Wright

Make sure you check out our highlights film below from the We Remember Them 100m x 100m Swim Relay Final which took place on the 8th September. If you'd like to do something extraordinary to remember those that did something extraordinary for us, head over to the We Remember Them website.

The Swim To Remember event, being organised by the open water swimming company Swim on the Wild Side takes place on 11th November 2018. One hundred years after the signing of the Armistice, a hundred swimmers will enter the water and assemble in silence whilst The Last Post rings out over the stillness of Derwentwater. The swimmers will pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom by swimming in silence for a thousand metres in the chilly November water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt3jTDnlGlQ

The idea for We Remember Them comes from the Remembrance Day poem They shall grow not old by Laurence Binyon:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Photos courtesy of We Remember Them.