Boiler brings in the money

Tuesday’s Trader Jacks charity boiler swim for all Vaka Eiva paddlers and supporters raised $800 for Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service.

Despite the wet and ‘cold’ conditions – 74 hardy swimmers took to the water for the fun annual swim around the boiler just outside the Avarua harbour.

Each swimmer made a gold coin donation to take part in the swim and the hat was passed around at Trader Jacks for donations for Te Vaerua Rehabilitation Service.

First across the line was 18-year-old Australian junior paddler Jackson Maynard with dad Chris coming home in third place.

Due to a technical glitch, times for the swim were not recorded – not that it mattered as half the field of swimmers decided to climb and jump off the boiler.

Te Vaerua received an extra $400 raised by 17-year-old Australian paddler Jenaya Davis and more funds are still being donated and collected.

Davis raised the funds by getting students at her Urangan State High School in Queensland to guess the number of jelly beans she had in her jar.

Davis also donned her bathing suit for the boiler swim continuing her support for Te Vaerua.

It was also pleasing to see the triathlon family come out and support the charity swim with local swimmers coming home in the top pack.