NEW Addington teenagers swam more than a mile to raise hundreds of pounds for a cancer charity, inspired by former Mayor of Croydon Brenda Kirby.
Robert Booth swam 80 lengths and classmate Paul Mouette 78 at New Addington Leisure Centre last Friday.
The pair, and fellow student Ben Sidibe who helped organise the event, hope the sponsored swim, part of their citizenship course at school, has raised as much as £500 for the Brenda Kirby Cancer Centre, named after the former New Addington councillor, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain and lung cancer in 2010.
Ken Sherwood, former district centre manager of New Addington's Central Parade, said: "For the boys to raise money for the charity as part of their school work was a fantastic gesture.
"Their teacher and friends supported them during the swimathon, which went really well. The boys could end up raising nearly £500, which is brilliant."
The cancer centre opened a base in New Addington Baptist Church last December.
Money raised will continue to fund free counselling for anyone affected by cancer.
