A charity set up to support people with multiple sclerosis held its first swimathon this weekend.

Organisers were delighted with the number of people who took to the water to raise funds for the MS Society of Bermuda.

Ellen Hollis, society president, said: “It was amazing. It was our first time doing this. It was a small event, but a well-supported event. And it couldn’t have been a better day for it.”

Six swimmers — four adults and two youth swimmers — jumped in the pool at the Bermuda National Sports Centre in Devonshire on Saturday.

Ms Hollis explained that they had to do a certain number of laps with people pledging money towards the challenge.

She said it was “brilliant” to see that level of support from friends, family and the community.

The event was part of the organisation’s MS Awareness Month and Ms Hollis said they would run it as an annual event.

She added: “We had people promising to come along next year. We are going to hold them to that and hope to see more people there.”

Ms Hollis said the group was still collecting pledges from the event. Funds raised from the swimathon will go to MS community education programmes and also to members’ medical costs.

• For more information, visit mssociety.bm, e-mail ejhollis@gov.bm or call 299-0028 or 295-2905