Swimathon, the world’s biggest fundraising swim is 30 years old next year!
The 2017 event takes place over 3 days from 7th – 9th April. As registration opens for the 2017 event, the total fundraising amount over the previous 29 years currently stands at a staggering £46 million which has been distributed among 36 different charities.
Swimathon began in 1986, the 1986 pilot was a London only initiative, organised by the Guild of London Bath Managers to encourage pools to get more people swimming. The launch of the annual event was in 1988, Swimathon has since seen almost 700,000 participants at over 1000 different pools across the UK, getting involved, swimming for the challenge and raising money for charity.
Swimathon looks to attract swimmers of all levels from experienced Swimathon participants to complete novices in the pools, and this is reflected in the different challenges available to those taking part.
Experienced Swimathon participants will notice a brand new look for this year. The new Swimathon identity was designed to reflect the event’s yearly appeal to young generations, as well as carrying the event’s long heritage in the world of swimming.
More than 600 venues across the length and breadth of the UK will be hosting sessions, ensuring that as many people as possible have close access to a facility. There are individual distance challenges from 1.5k to 5k or swimmers can share the workload by being part of teams taking on the team challenges. Those wanting to take part who can’t get to a local pool or meet the event dates can enter SimplySwim, which is a Swimathon challenge that allows individuals to complete a distance swim wherever and whenever it suits, rather than at an organised Swimathon session.
At the 2017 event, four Swimathon “veterans”, are expected to complete a unique feat. Having taken part in every one of the previous 29 Swimathons, these incredible individuals are each due to collect their 30th Swimathon medal in April!
Swimathon President and Olympic gold-medallist Duncan Goodhew said, “For the last 29 years it has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and mature into the great event it is today. Nowadays there are thousands of well organised sports participation events, mostly running and cycling, which raise money for charity but that wasn’t the case in 1988 when we launched the annual event. Swimathon really was ahead of its time giving people a chance to get active and do some good at the same time. I am so proud of both Swimathon’s longevity and its legacy.”
The official charity of Swimathon 2017 is Marie Curie. The charity provides care and support for people living with any terminal illness, and their families. It has been doing this work for over 65 years and last year alone cared for and supported over 50,000 people affected by terminal illness across the UK.
Full details about Swimathon can be found at; www.Swimathon.org.
–ENDS–
For more information, interviews or photography, please contact:
Lucien Bigois, Limelight Sports
0207 299 4190 lucien.bigois@limelightsports.com
About Swimathon
- Swimathon is the world’s biggest fundraising swim, and will take place from 07th-09th April 2017
- The event will incorporate the 5k, 2.5k, 1.5k and Team 5k/1.5k challenges for Marie Curie
- Swimathon started in 1986 and since then more than half a million swimmers have taken part, raising over £46 million for charity
- 2017 will mark the 30th edition of Swimathon! The milestone will be celebrated digitally and in pools around the UK during event weekend
- Pools and operators continue to encourage visitors to enter Swimathon, about 49% of participants in 2016 heard about the event through their swimming pool, their continued support is extremely important to the success of the event
- Swimathon has raised funds for a variety of nominated charities, including Comic Relief, Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, The British Heart Foundation, The Prince’s Trust and, most recently, Marie Curie and The Swimathon Foundation
www.swimathon.org
www.facebook.com/SwimathonChallenge
www.twitter.com/swimathon
About the Swimathon Foundation
- The Swimathon Foundation, a company limited by guarantee, is the independent registered charity, which owns the annual national Swimathon event (charity number 1123870).
- The Swimathon Foundation was formed in 2001 to guarantee the long-term future of the Swimathon event.
- The Swimathon Foundation is the legal rights owner of the Swimathon event and as such is responsible for not only the staging of the Swimathon but also the management and distribution of the funds raised by the event’s participants.
- The Swimathon Foundation Trustees select the Swimathon’s principal charity partner, which receives the majority of the fundraising income, as well as awarding grants to local organisations whose projects help promote swimming in their communities
- The Swimathon Foundation provides grants of between £300 and £2,500 to organisations including swimming pools, operators, clubs, community organisations and charities that can demonstrate how funding will allow them to help more people participate in and enjoy swimming and to make swimming more accessible.
- For further information visit the Swimathon Foundation website at: swimathonfoundation.org. This website provides information about how to apply for a grant.
About Marie Curie
Please note – we are now called ‘Marie Curie’ (not Marie Curie Cancer Care)
Marie Curie – care and support through terminal illness
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.
Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
If you have questions about terminal illness, need support or just want to talk, call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309. It’s for anyone affected by terminal illness, including family and friends.
For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
Like us at www.facebook.com/mariecurieuk
About Zoggs
- Born in Australia, the home of swimming, Zoggs is now swimming all around the world.
- At Zoggs we have a passion for creating innovative, exciting and high quality Swimwear and Swim Equipment.
- We want all swimmers, whether just starting out; swimming for fitness or recreation; swimming in the great outdoors or in a Triathlon, to enjoy the freedom, fun and exhilaration of the water.
- What matters to us is that swimmers enjoy life in the fun lane with unconditional trust in their Zoggs Swimwear, Goggles and Equipment. Dive in at www.zoggs.com