Pools dive into world's biggest fundraising swim

Swimathon Weekend 2012 hits 645 pools across the UK, from 27-29 April, and you can take part at Copeland Swimming Pool, Whitehaven, Willowburn Sports & Leisure Centre, Alnwick, Prudhoe Waterworld and Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham.  In its 25th Anniversary, Swimathon has joined forces with British Swimming and the BBC’s Big Splash, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief, to promote what is hoped will be the biggest Swimathon Weekend ever.  The Swimathon Weekend 2012 will give thousands of swimmers the opportunity to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care through Swimathon’s established Distance Challenges and for Sport Relief through the new ‘Big Splash Mile’.

Swimathon Weekend 2012 is the perfect way to start the New Year and a new you.  Whatever your ability, swimming is a great form of exercise, and is relaxing for the mind and body. Swimming also helps to build endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. 

Entries for the Swimathon Weekend 2012 opened last week. Model Jodie Kidd and London 2012 Ambassador Duncan Goodhew launched the event early in the New Year by swimming the first two lengths at London’s Oasis Sports Centre. The first 10,000 people to register for the Swimathon Weekend online at www.swimathon.org before 31 January 2012 will enjoy a half price discount! 

Swimathon Weekend President Duncan Goodhew said: “We all know that sports such as swimming will enjoy their time in the limelight this year. 2012 also being our 25th Anniversary year, we’d love to add to the half a million people who have taken part in the event so far, to dive into pools up and down the country. These amazing people have raised more than £34 million for charity to date and, by teaming up with the Big Splash, we’re aiming to raise record amounts for not one but two important charities.”

Funds raised by taking on the Swimathon Distance Challenges for Marie Curie Cancer Care will provide free nursing care and support for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. The charity expects to care for over 31,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year.

Money raised by the public for the Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives; both here, at home in the UK, and across the world's poorest countries.

Be one of the first 10,000 people to sign up online for a Swimathon Weekend session before 31 January 2012, and you’ll enjoy half price entry. Swimmer entry is open at www.swimathon.org until 25 April 2012.