Swimmers today took on a marathon swim down the river Tyne on a sponsored swim with a difference – to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The three and a half hour swim covered 10 miles, which is the aquatic version of a marathon, starting at Newcastle City Marina at 11am and finishing at South Shields sailing club.
The 24 fundraisers from across the country are skilled swimmers who regularly train in rivers, lakes and the sea and have been brought together by their love of outdoor swimming. Today they raised about £2,500 for the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea.
This is the third such swim, and over the past two years the team has raised £15,000 for the RNLI.