Friends swimming for a good cause in Cole Classic

WHAT started out as a way to raise money for a work-mate has now led to more than $60,000 being raised for charity.

WHAT started out as a way to raise money for a work-mate who was seriously injured in a car accident, has now led to more than $60,000 being raised.

Drummoyne resident Stephen Flannery and staff from Fugen in Botany have swum in the Cole Classic for the past three years.

A group of more than 40 will again compete in the swim from Manly to Shelly Beach on Sunday, this year raising money for the Wayside Chapel.

"It started because a guy from work lost his leg in a car accident, so we thought it would be a fun way to raise some money for him," Mr Flannery said.

"The year after the wives of some guys from work were suffering from breast cancer, so we decided to raise money for a cancer charity.

"Our team consists of employees and their families, plus friends and friends of friends, with a lot of father, daughter, wife and son teams swimming."

The group raised more than $30,000 for the cancer charity in 2010, and $15,000 each year for the past two.

The group from Fugen are aiming to add to the $60,000 at this Sunday's event.

The 1km, 2km and 9km swims start from Shelly Beach and finish at Manly Beach.