More than 700 “Marilyns” have braved 39 degree Celsius temperatures to raise funds for Cancer Council SA during its iconic Marilyn Jetty Swim.
Now in its 12th year, there were indications Sunday’s event at Brighton in Adelaide would be the biggest one so far after registrations were exhausted several weeks in advance at 765 people.
Event founder Sarah Tinney, who recently received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), said she was “blown away by it all”.
Speaking just after the swim, Ms Tinney said they were just shy of their $400,000 fundraising goal, but expected that would tip over overnight.
“In total, over all the years [combined], we’d be over $1.5 million now and growing,” she said.
“With these kinds of numbers, we’re going to hit our $5 million goal in a couple of years.
“This has exceeded my expectations. I’ve usually got pretty big ideas but this is bigger and better than I could have ever have thought.”
The Brighton local joked that the Marilyn swim was now so big, they would need NASA’s help next year just to get all the Marilyns down onto the beach.
Speaking about her OAM, which she received for creating the fundraising event after losing her mother to uterine cancer in 2007, Ms Tinney said she initially thought the phone call from the Prime Minister’s Office was a scam.
“But, yeah, it was real,” she said.
“I’m just really incredibly honoured and didn’t see it coming, so it’s amazing.”
Swimming for Bernie
Among the Marilyns taking to the water at Brighton was Jamestown resident and breast cancer survivor Cate Pearce, who also lost a friend to pancreatic cancer.
“I had wanted to get involved [in the Marilyn Jetty Swim] six years ago but of course [because] of my cancer diagnosis I didn’t take part,” Ms Pearce said.
“Last year, we formed The Bernies – and we’re all from Jamestown originally – and we swam and Bernie swam with us. [So did] her sister, her nieces, her daughter.
“And unfortunately we lost Bernie in June, so we’re swimming in her honour again this year.”
Ms Pearce said it was both “overwhelming” and “humbling” to participate in the event which was “doing good for so many people”.
“We’ve all been touched by cancer so everybody is here for the same reason. Everybody’s kind and considerate and really respectful out there on the water because it’s easy to get kicked in the face, so everybody looks after each other,” she said.
“I was on medication for five years and I’ve been off medication for nearly a year.
“You’re not deemed cancer-free until like … 10 years, basically. I have to keep going back to my oncologist, but everything’s great. Every year my mammograms are clear.”
Every year the event sees hundreds of South Australians swim or paddle 400 metres around Brighton Jetty while dressed head to toe as 50s Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.
All the money raised through the Marilyn Jetty Swim goes toward Cancer Council SA to fund prevention, research and support services.
