Mat Davies and Crystal Mahfouz love to swim.
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But unlike their team leader Professor Peter Innis, the duo would rather swim in daylight hours.
Though they will happily take one for the team at next month’s annual 24 hour Wollongong Mega Swim.
But as Prof Innis thinks swimming laps in the middle of the night is fun, he will gladly do the bulk of laps.
“These night time lappers represent the true soul of the event,” Prof Innis said.
“They are the core swimmers. They are the guys you can count on to turn up and do the long lonely nights.
“That's the heart and soul of it all, really.”
After winning the event in 2017 and 2018 and finishing a close second in 2016, his team “AIIM Higher” will don their trunks once again to compete in this year’s Mega Swim at the University of Wollongong’s UniActive pool on March 16 and 17.
It will be the ninth Wollongong Mega Swim organised by Multiple Sclerosis Australia and Figtree Lions Club to raise funds to provide special Go for Gold scholarships for MS sufferers.
So far the annual event has raised more than $300,000.
Funds raised will allow people with MS to fulfill their potential in life by pursuing aspirations in the fields of employment, sport, travel, education or the arts.
Prof Innis said their team AIIM principally involved academic staff and post doctoral students from the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus as well as family and friends.
“Hence the play on the word ‘Higher’,” he said.
“We started as a fairly dedicated group of swimmers when the mega swim began and participated initially because it was for a good cause and has a great community atmosphere.
“We raised about $8000 last year and are hoping to raise a similar amount this year.
“We’ve got $1000 already but it’s still early days. Hopefully we can reach our target to support a great cause.”
Twelve teams so far have entered for this year’s Mega Swim but Figtree Lions Club Mega Swim committee chairman Bill Wright is keen to see more teams registering by visiting www.msmegaswim.org.au or calling 1300 733 690.
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
