Dusk Till Dawn 12hr Relay

Jesus Green Lido was the setting for an extraordinary overnight event on Saturday, 21st June, as it hosted the inaugural Dusk Till Dawn 12-Hour Relay Swim, held in partnership with national charity Level Water. The event marked a first of its kind for the Lido and was met with outstanding enthusiasm and support from the community.

A total of 34 teams took part in the challenge, with each team comprising up to 12 participants. Among the line-up were two local teams representing Jesus Green Lido’s own staff and Friends of Jesus Green. The event brought together swimmers of all ages and abilities to collectively swim through the night, all in support of inclusive swim coaching for children with disabilities.

After welcoming the busiest day of the season so far, the Lido team successfully cleared the pool of regular swimmers by 6:30pm to make way for the relay. The first swimmers entered the water at 7:00pm, kicking off the first of 12 one-hour slots. Each leg of the relay lasted 55 minutes, followed by a 5-minute handover to the next swimmer or team, maintaining a consistent pace until 7:00am the following morning.

Adding to the evening’s vibrant atmosphere, the Chesterton Village College Folk Fiddle Band performed live from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, entertaining swimmers and spectators alike as the event got underway.

While many participants set up tents poolside to rest between sessions, four solo swimmers took on the full 12-hour challenge individually—completing all twelve swims with only brief breaks in between. It was an inspiring feat of endurance that captured the spirit of the event.

Behind the scenes, eight staff members supported the relay throughout the night, many of whom also took to the water to complete a swim or two themselves. Their dedication played a key role in the smooth delivery of the event.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of all involved, the event has already raised an impressive £26,133 for Level Water, with donations still coming in. The funds will go directly towards providing specialist swimming lessons for children with disabilities, making the water a more inclusive space for everyone.

Buoyed by the overwhelming success of this first relay, organisers have already begun planning for a return event next year—with hopes to make it even bigger and better.