14 dramatically walked in through large surf and 14 successfully walked out.

The 100% success rate for the 14 swimmers who participated in today’s 8 km Swim For Hope in South Africa was augmented by the record-breaking swims on both the men’s and women’s side.

The tough extreme open water swim around Cape Point was performed in support of the Little Fighters Cancer Trust, a local charity that offers support to children with cancer and their families.

The group of 14 entered the water at Diaz Beach around 9:00 am and immediately had to negotiate heavy surf. And the struggles continued as they headed towards the point through turbulent waters that ranged between 12.5ºC and 16ºC.

Anthony Pearse was the first swimmer of the intrepid group to finish in a fast 1 hour 41 minutes, taking an incredible 21 minutes of the previous record which was jointly held by himself and famed Irish swimmer Ned Denison. Carina Bruwer shaved 2 minutes off her own female record time, set in 2004, while finishing in a quick time of 2 hours 18 minutes.

Other finishers were Capetonians Justin Coetzee in 2:13, Neil Hopkins in 2:17, Toni Enderli and Martin Vleggaar tied in 2:35, Monika Hayes, Rouen Smit and Chris Westcott in 2:38, Charl Cilliers and Clinton Le Sueurr in 2:45 and Lindsay de Kock in 3:58. Johannesburg swimmers Colin Gluch completed the course in 2:46 while Richard Child finished in 3:08 while setting the record for becoming the oldest swimmer to have successfully rounded Cape Point at the age of 61.

Bruwer from the award-winning group Sterling EQ, initiated the Swim For Hope charity event with a solo rounding last year. She decided to turn it into an invitational swim challenge in order to expand upon her own fundraising activities. She said after finishing the grueling swim, “I’m so happy everything went well. [After a week of delays] the conditions at the start did not look too promising, but fortunately it improved once we rounded the point. I’m so proud of all the brave swimmers, especially Richard and Lindsay who put up a valiant effort”.

Mandie Erasmus, project manager of Little Fighters Cancer Trust, said, “These swimmers from all walks of life share a passion for the ocean and a commitment to doing good. All moneys raised will go towards the Little Fighters Cancer Trust’s BAG OF HOPE Project. A bag of hope provides essentials for both the Child with Cancer and his/her mother or bedside care-giver, with items such as toiletries, pyjamas, non-perishable food, educational toys, blankets and sanitary products, making a challenging and prolonged hospital stay just a bit more comfortable.”

Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association