MEMBERS of Salisbury Stingrays Swimming Club raised more than £500 for a disability club through a sponsored swim.

About 75 swimmers aged between 9 and 65 took part in the two-hour challenge to swim the equivalent distance from Salisbury to France for Salisbury Dolphins.

Stingrays chairman, Melanie Cusack, developed the fundraising idea with national swimming charity The Swimming Trust after reading in the Journal that the Dolphins were struggling with the cost of pool hire at Five Rivers Leisure Centre.

She said: “We train every day at Five Rivers and we would be very upset to lose any pool time.”

“All swimmers, whether able-bodied or not get enormous social and physical benefits from swimming and we know how important their water time is to the Dolphins’ members.

“Getting behind this fundraiser was an easy decision for our members and we were very pleased to be able to help another swimming club.”

Dolphins club president, Chris McAnaspie, said: “This was such a welcome surprise. We are not a big club and this money will make a tremendous difference to all of our members and their families and friends who enjoy their swimming so much.”

Salisbury Stingrays were delighted with the success of their annual spring meet.

More than 200 swimmers from across Wiltshire and Hampshire and their families took over Five Rivers all day, achieving personal bests, winning medals and raising money for the Stingrays.

The Stingrays swimmers secured 52 gold, 63 silver and 36 bronze medals.

Head coach Mark Corben was full of praise for the swimmers.