SWIMMERS in Tavistock and Okehampton who took part in this year's record-breaking BT Swimathon helped raise almost £2.4 million nationwide for cancer and swimming charities.
Events at Kelly College and Meadowlands in Tavistock and Okehampton swimming pool in March raised £2,192.79, £570.69 and £881.09 respectively in Europe's largest swimming event of the year.
Fifty per cent of the money raised will go to Macmillan Cancer Relief — which is teamed up with the event for the next three years — to fund its Cancer Talk project, aimed at young people, teachers and parents.
Murray Lindo, head of the charity's youth development and education department thanked everyone who 'dived in' and said the money would go a long way to helping educate people about the disease.
Duncan Goodhew, Olympic gold medallist and president of Swimathon, said the event had been a huge success. 'This year's £2.4 million total is more than we ever dreamt of,' he said.