Swim club needs help to stay afloat

The inspirational Mantas Swimming Club, founded 27 years ago by the late Captain Harry Wright, is in danger of sinking due to a lack of volunteer support.

The youth club's annual international meet at Shing Mun Valley on May 8 and 9 attracted 10 teams, including over 300 junior swimmers, from Beijing, Manila, Bangkok and Taipei, but a shortage of parent volunteers meant organisers were stretched to the limit.

'A few of us have been flat out working on this for the last month,' says Rob Wright, the tournament director who took over duties when his father passed away five years ago. 'We're desperate for more support now,' he adds.

To keep the club going, volunteers are needed to help at social functions, charity fund-raising events, and local and overseas swimming meets. Help with pre-event administration tasks is also needed.

'We used to get a lot of parents involved but it's become harder than ever to get people to volunteer. Many mums have full-time jobs and they just don't have the time.

'Our meets make the swimmers feel part of a Hong Kong team and gives them a taste of competition.

'It also gives a big confidence boost to the younger and less experienced ones, and there are no qualifying times so everyone can enter,' Wright says.