Chloe Tutton helps Swimathon celebrate its 30th anniversary
Press release published
Medal-winning Welsh swimmer Chloe Tutton is encouraging people to get into the pool, while raising money for a good cause.
Chloe joined a team from the Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale hospice in Penarth at her training venue, Cardiff International Pool, to encourage people of all ages to sign up to Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim.
Swimmers across the UK are being encouraged to jump in one of over 600 participating pools and raise vital funds for Marie Curie, the UK’s leading charity for people living with a terminal illness and their families.
The event will take place in Cardiff across the weekend of 14th-16th April and is extra special this year as Swimathon will be celebrating its 30th anniversary - and organisers are calling on volunteers to come forward as lane counters for the weekend.
Swimathon began in 1986 as a pilot programme for swimmers in London only. Since the launch of the annual event in 1988, nearly 700,000 participants have taken part and raised £46 million which has been distributed to 36 different charities.
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.
Olympic gold medalist Duncan Goodhew and the sporting soprano Laura Wright are heading up this year’s campaign, while Welsh swimmer Chloe Tutton has also lent a hand to call on people of all ages to set themselves the challenge and take to the water.
Chloe, who is originally from the Rhondda but now lives in Cardiff, said: “I enjoy swimming and it’s always been kind of therapeutic to me, but it’s also a good way to stay fit and have fun.
“You don’t have to do it for very long, even if it’s just an hour once a week, you will still build up your fitness and you have a life skill which I think is essential.”
Marie Curie Community Fundraiser Clare Wright is joined by Legacy Advisor Corrine Jones, West Wales community fundraiser Chris Roberts and Senior Media and PR Officer Rachel Moses-Lloyd to tackle the 5k course.
Clare is encouraging people in Cardiff to put on their swim suits and head down to Cardiff International Pool to take in a Swimathon Challenge: “We’re looking for swimmers to help make this the biggest and best Swimathon yet. In 2015, 22,600 swimmers took part and helped raise a brilliant £1.9 million for Marie Curie – a fantastic achievement but one we are hoping to beat this year.”
Duncan Goodhew – a former coach of Chloe’s who is also Swimathon President - 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.
“This year, Swimathon again provides a fantastic opportunity to bring together swimmers of all ages and abilities to raise vital funds for Marie Curie to continue their work caring for and supporting people living with a terminal illness, and their families.”
Marie Curie is the official charity of Swimathon 2017. 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. Last year, Marie Curie cared for and supported over 50,000 people affected by terminal illness across the UK.
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.
If you can help by being a lane counter, contact Clare Wright on 02920 426068.
To sponsor the hospice team, visit https://www.justgiving.com/companyteams/PenarthHospicePaddlers
For further information about Swimathon including how to sign up visit: www.Swimathon.org.