Guernsey Round Table and Lions Club of Guernsey have announced that Les Bourgs Hospice has been named as the main beneficiary of the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon, which this year marks its 50th anniversary.
The announcement brings together two significant local milestones, with the hospice also celebrating its 35th year.
The Skipton Swimarathon is a long-standing community fundraiser that brings islanders together in support of important local causes.
Les Bourgs Hospice is at the heart of the community and an essential part of Guernsey’s healthcare system. It provides compassionate, specialist, palliative care to patients, as well as vital support for their families. But its work reaches far beyond end-of-life care.
The Hospice relies entirely on fundraising to raise the £2.8m a year it costs to provide comfort, dignity and relief from complex conditions, as well as expert pain and symptom management, dedicated bereavement and wellbeing support. It’s only thanks to the incredible generosity of the community it serves that Les Bourgs Hospice can survive.
John Stuart, Chair of the Skipton Swimarathon Organising Committee, said: “We are very pleased to name Les Bourgs Hospice as the main beneficiary for the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon. In this special 50th anniversary year, it feels particularly fitting to support an organisation that means so much to our community. The Skipton Swimarathon has always been about people coming together behind a shared cause, and we hope this year’s event will help raise both funds and awareness for the vital support the hospice provides.”
Pete Turner, Chief Operating Officer at Skipton International, said: “We are proud to continue supporting the Skipton Swimarathon in its 50th year and to help shine a light on the important work of Les Bourgs Hospice. The event reflects the best of Guernsey’s community spirit, bringing together individuals, families, schools and businesses in a way that is inclusive, positive and purposeful.”
Rob Jones, Chief Executive Officer at Les Bourgs Hospice, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen as the main beneficiary for the 2026 Skipton Swimarathon. This support will help us continue providing compassionate care to people with complex needs, while also supporting their families through what can often be very difficult times. It is also an opportunity to help more people understand the wider role hospice care can play in supporting dignity, comfort and wellbeing.”
Pictured: Left to right – Rob Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Les Bourgs Hospice; Fenella Comeskey, Marketing Associate, Skipton International; Pete Turner, Chief Operating Officer, Skipton International; John Stuart, Chair, Skipton Swimarathon Organising Committee; Tom Allison, President, Guernsey Round Table; John McLoughlin, President, Lions Club of Guernsey
