Brave Benbecula swimmers go wild for SCIAF

There’s nothing quite as bracing as the North Atlantic in winter, but that wasn’t enough to put off three brave women from Benbecula as they took on a fundraising challenge.

And their message was simple: use your SCIAF WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE!   

The wild swimmers – Sarah Jane MacSween, Mercy and Chris MacLullich and Maree MacInnes – vowed to swim off Cula Bay six times during Lent.

Sarah Jane said:

“Swimming was just part of it. Mercy has run 60km and I have walked 120km. Maree and Chris have run an amazing 200km in Lent.”

Thanks to the generosity of people across Scotland, SCIAF has been funding local organisations in Ethiopia to bring clean water to communities and help people help themselves out of poverty.  

The swimmers have been joined by five others – Seonag, Annabelle, Catriona and husband and wife team Calum and Gretta – all of whom walked 120 km.

Sarah Jane noted:

“It's been a tremendous team effort. We originally aimed to raise £2,000 at the beginning of Lent, but with the help of our 166 supporters for SCIAF, we've raised an impressive £5,598, with more donations still being made.

“We had to be cautious while swimming. I wore a wetsuit, but Mercy and Maree only had on swimwear. Besides the currents, the temperature can limit us to just 5-10 minutes in the water to avoid the risk of hypothermia. The experience of completing a swim in the Atlantic is truly amazing.

“We all support SCIAF, but it was actually my mother’s carer, Seonag from our team, who inspired the initiative. The story of women and girls in Ethiopia walking great distances for safe water deeply resonated with us. Given that it is Lent, we felt compelled to contribute, so we decided to do everything we could to assist the campaign.

"As a Head Teacher, I have always supported SCIAF in schools over the years. What sets them apart from other charities is that they focus on more than just a ‘quick fix’; they genuinely work to enhance and improve people's lives in the countries they serve. So, it felt natural as an island community to come together to support the campaign in any way we could.

"The weather has certainly posed a challenge with its cold and stormy conditions. However, we have almost completed our challenge - some of us just need to complete one last swim and walk/run some more kilometres in the coming days. The team have enjoyed the experience, with some exceeding their walking challenge. It has been great to unwind with my team after a swim with a hot drink and treat.”

 This Lent, please use your WEE BOX to make a BIG CHANGE. Your support can show young people around the world that a better world is possible – one where they can survive, thrive and flourish.