text: Swimathon held at Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough in memory of Susan Taylor who died in English Channel swim - Loughborough Echo
  They aimed to swim the equivalent of the 59 miles of the River Soar while raising thousands of pounds for the hospice
  Some of the Rainbows swimmers.
  MORE than £1,000 has been raised after a group of swimmers smashed their target to swim the equivalent of the River Soar in memory of a fund-raiser.
  Susan Taylor, of Barwell, tragically died while swimming the English Channel in July for Rainbows and Diabetes UK.
  As a thank you for all of Susan's work for Rainbows and to honour her memory, more than 70 children, young people, families, staff and volunteers, as well as world record swimmer Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE, took part in a 24-hour swimathon in the hospice's hydrotherapy pool last weekend.
  They aimed to swim the equivalent of the 59 miles of the River Soar while raising thousands of pounds for the hospice – and both targets were not only achieved but smashed.
  The swimmers managed a combined total of 68 miles and, although it is not yet known exactly how much was raised, just two young people, Amirah Azam and Ryan White, who both benefit from Rainbows, raised around £1,700 between them.
  Phillip Yorkstone, pool coordinator at Rainbows, said: "It was a fantastic event.
  "Staff, volunteers and our families worked so hard as a team to make this event a success.
  "We hope to have raised in excess of £1,000 and on behalf of Rainbows, I would like to thank everyone who was involved."
  Julie, who was a close friend of Susan's and joined in both at the beginning and the end, said: "Susan would have loved this event. It was just so her and I was over the moon to be able to take part and in doing so raise yet more money for such a worthwhile cause.
  "Already we have doubled the amount we wanted to raise and would welcome any further donations.
  "Well done to all those who took part. It was a hugely successful and fun event."
  Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/rainbows-splash