SNAPPY swimmers have raised nearly £800 with a 12-hour swimathon.

Nine swimmers took the gruelling challenge to raise money for York-based charity Snappy, which provides activities for children with special needs.

The event was organised by Leisure Vend Services, a York-based cleaning and security firm which has been supporting SNAPPY for the last two years.

The swim took place at the Barbican Centre and raised a total of £769. Three of the swimmers were teenagers who attend some of the group's activities.

Organiser Ailsa Taylor, from Leisure Vend, said that she was keen to hear from anyone with fundraising ideas or who would be willing to help organise further events.

She said that extra help was particularly important as the charity is to lose out on £12,000 funding a year now that the York branch of Mencap had folded.

She said: "Mencap used to fund our Saturday club, which is designed to give the parents of children with special needs a well-deserved break. Seventy children aged between five and 19 attend the club and we desperately need to raise more money to keep the club going."

Anyone who wants to help with fundraising should call Ailsa on 01759 377366 or 07870 592683.

Updated: 10:05 Friday, February 07, 2003