British Swimmers back Swimathon
Press release published
British Swimmers Craig McLean, Kathleen Dawson and Danielle Huskisson were poolside at The Peak at Stirling Sports Village to encourage people into swimming.
The trio, all members of the University of Stirling Swimming team, were supporting Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim. People across the UK are being encouraged to jump in to one of over 600 participating pools for the 7-9 April event and raise vital funds for Marie Curie, the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness and their families.
Swimmers can challenge themselves to the 5k, 2.5k or 1.5k Individual or Team 5k or 1.5k distances and raise funds for Marie Curie.
Kathleen Dawson from Kirkcaldy, who is the 50m, 100m and 200m Scottish National Record holder in women’s backstroke, said: “Swimming is an easy way to keep fit and raise money for Marie Curie. Sign up today."
European Open Water 5km champion Danielle Huskisson from South Shields said: "Swimathon 2017 is a great way to challenge yourself and raise money for Marie Curie."
British Swimming Senior Gold Squad member Craig McLean from Livingston said: "Take the plunge and sign up to Swimathon and with every length you’ll be supporting families living with a terminal illness.”
Jennifer Gale Marie Curie Community Fundraiser said: “We’ve got over 50 people signed up already to take part in Swimathon at The Peak and we want to double that. With the support of Kathleen, Danielle and Craig we hope more people will be inspired to sign up. The money raised will help your local Marie Curie Nursing Service provide care and support to people living with a terminal illness in their own homes.”
Marie Curie is the official charity of Swimathon 2017. 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. Last year, Marie Curie cared for and supported over 8,000 people affected by terminal illness across Scotland.
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 further information about Swimathon including how to sign up visit: www.Swimathon.org
Notes to editor
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/mariecuriescotland
Follow us on www.twitter.com/mariecuriesco
About Swimathon
- Swimathon is the world's biggest fundraising swim, and will take place from 7th-9th 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 millionfor 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: www.swimathonfoundation.org. This website provides information about how to apply for a grant