The annual Marilyn Jetty Swim on Brighton Beach, Adelaide reconvened on Sunday, February 3rd, attracting its largest number yet with 664 ‘Marilyns’ raising over $338,000 for Cancer Council South Australia, as ABC News reports.
“Now in its 11th year, the annual event has raised more than $1.3 million to date, with swimmers from all over the world dressing up as the iconic 1950s star, Marilyn Monroe.
The fundraiser was founded by Sarah Tinney after her mother, who lived in the US, was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2006.
She said she felt helpless being so far away from her mother, and that when she passed away in 2007, fundraising became even more important to her.
The first Marilyn swim took place in 2014 with 50 people, and has now grown into an event that attracts hundreds of swimmers and spectators.
She said the idea came about from a conversation with another woman who knew she fundraised for the Cancer Council.
The woman said Ms Tinney should do ‘something iconic and American for your mum’ and suggested she ‘swim like Marilyn Monroe’.
‘And it’s just kind of grown from there,’ she said.
‘I had two ladies swimming next to me today – 78 years old – I think those are our oldest Marilyns, so cancer affects everyone, and everyone gets involved and it’s a beautiful thing.’
This year’s event saw record attendance with 664 Marilyns, but also broke the record for the most amount of money raised in a single year with more than $338,000 collected for the Cancer Council of SA [Updated].
People taking part said it was a special event to be a part of.
‘My cup feels like it’s overflowing honestly, just with love and happiness,’ said Jane, one of the swimmers.
Chief Executive Cancer Council SA, Kerry Rowlands said she was ‘blown away’ by this year’s event.
‘We have people participating from across Australia, people who have flown in from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, but we also have two teams [from overseas] that I’m aware of, one that has flown in from the UK and one from America,’ Ms Rowlands said.
Swimmers Rachel and Paul said they were taking part after losing a friend to brain cancer last year.
‘This year, we’re swimming for her,’ Rachel said.”
The London-based freelance photographer Amer Ghazzal covered the event for the UK press, with images published in The Times, The Guardian and the Daily Express.
And finally, you can watch a video of the 2024 Marilyn Jetty Swim on YouTube.
The Marilyn Report 