In a testament to the generosity of everyday people, a single primary school took in more than $10,000 over just two weeks to help Sandys 360.The West End community centre is still tallying the funds raised in Friday’s epic “swim-a-thon” — but Purvis Primary students managed to blow expectations out of the water by doubling their donation.Teacher Selena Mello, who organised the Warwick school’s fund drive, said: “We’re a tiny school of 150 students who just raised their own money for their own lessons, and also helped out this amazing charity. I’m getting e-mails and phone calls from parents who are blown away at how supportive the community was, and how into it their children were.“We surprised ourselves.”The Wet n Wild fundraiser, chosen for the chill month of February because of Sandys 360’s indoor pool, marked its third year on Friday.Sandys 360 was initially partnered with Government to cover the cost of swimming lessons for 10 West End schools, but after two years the financing had to be pulled, she said.Swimming lessons remained on the curriculum at Purvis, however — so Ms Mello, formerly the aquatics director at Sandys 360, asked the organisation to name its price.It would cost $5,000 to cover the lessons, but Sandys 360 offered to use the money raised by schools taking part in the Wet n Wild to pay for lessons.Purvis Primary students got their punch cards for soliciting donations just two weeks in advance — and set out for the doorsteps and streets of the Island.A picture of a pool in their assembly hall showed the monies raised.“I had to extend the pool,” Ms Mello said. “Every single class went over $1,000.” One student alone broke $300, she added.In the end, $10,288 was raised — $5,000 for the children to get their lessons, and the rest to the Sandys 360 Foundation.360’s Tia Tankard, who organises the centre’s special events, said:“A lot of people think we’re Government funded, but we’re not. Fundraising is how we pay our bills, and the swim-a-thon is our major fundraiser each year.”Each school raised its own funds, she said, but Purvis “exceeded our expectations”.The event started out as 24 hours, and now it’s 12 hours of straight swimming.After seniors started it off, Purvis Primary, West End Primary, Heron Bay, Sandys Middle School and Somerset Primary took to the water, along with teams from the Bermuda Police Service and Digicel.Useful website: www.sandys360.bm.