The Swimathon Foundation, the charity behind the hugely successful Swimathon campaign, is delighted to announce the introduction of a new challenge as part of the Swimathon family – Open Water Swimathon.
Open Water Swimathon, which takes place for the first time in 2017 on the weekend of 9th – 10th September, is a fundraising open water swimming event taking place at venues across the country.
Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie are uniting as partners for Open Water Swimathon 2018 to raise as much money as possible for two causes close to the nation’s hearts.
Open Water Swimathon participants will have the opportunity to take on a challenge as individuals (1.5K, 2.5K or 5K) or as part of a team (1.5K or 5K). The inaugural event provides the perfect challenge for both experienced swimmers, and those looking to try out open water swimming for the first time.
The Swimathon Foundation Chair, Anthony Kendall, said: ‘The Swimathon Foundation is passionate about encouraging people to get involved with swimming and to raise money for great causes. The introduction of Open Water Swimathon to our family of events gives us an excellent opportunity to offer an accessible new challenge to thousands of swimmers over the coming years’
Cancer Research UK Head of Events, Clive Sanders said: “We’re incredibly excited to be one of the charity partners for Open Water Swimathon. The events are fantastic and offer our supporters a fun and unique way to fundraise for our life saving research. Cancer Research UK’s work has fuelled the progress that has seen cancer survival rates double in the last forty years. Today, two in four people survive cancer. Our ambition is to accelerate progress so that three in four people survive cancer by 2034 and this partnership will make a very welcome contribution to that aim.”
Marie Curie Head of Community Fundraising, Mark Winton said: “Everyone at Marie Curie is delighted to announce that we will be a charity partner of Open Water Swimathon for the next four years. Every five minutes someone in the UK dies without getting the care and support they need. People should be able to die with the dignity and respect they deserve. The money raised from Open Water Swimathon will help Marie Curie be there at home or in a hospice for more people affected by any terminal illness, including terminal cancer.”
Registration for Open Water Swimathon 2017 is now open, including Early Bird offer for a limited amount of places. Enter or learn more today at www.OpenWaterSwimathon.org.
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Lucien Bigois, Marketing & Communications Manager, Limelight Sports
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About Open Water Swimathon
- Open Water Swimathon is an open water event taking place for the first time in 2017.
- The inaugural Open Water Swimathon will take place on 9th-10th September.
- Open Water Swimathon provides the perfect challenge for experienced open water swimmers, those transferring from the pool to the open water for the first time and people looking to get back into swimming with a new challenge.
- Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK will be the official Charity Partners of Open Water 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 Cancer Research UK
- Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
- Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
- Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every donation made.
- Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
- Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.
For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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
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