Olympians urge swimmers to sign up to Swimathon and make a splash for charity
Press release published
Mark Foster and Duncan Goodhew are encouraging swimmers of all abilities to sign up to Swimathon 2019 on March 29th – 31st
Team GB swimming heroes Mark Foster and Duncan Goodhew are urging people to sign up to Swimathon 2019 – the world’s biggest annual swimming fundraiser - which is raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
Foster, the former World, European and Commonwealth champion, who set 8 world records during a glittering career, is supporting the campaign, alongside Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew, President of Swimathon.
Designed intentionally so people of all swimming abilities can participate, there are a variety of distances available as individual challenges - 400m, 1.5k, 2.5k, 5k and the new Triple 5k, while 1.5k and 5k are also available as team challenges for family, friends or colleagues to take on.
Speaking at the London Aquatic Centre, which is one of 600 participating pools around the UK, Mark Foster said: “I’m very proud to be supporting Swimathon 2019 and I hope everyone looking to set themselves a challenge for 2019 signs up. Whether you’re just learning or are an experienced swimmer already, there’s a challenge for you.
“Swimming is fantastic for your health and wellbeing as it helps to keep fit. As you train, you build stamina and speed, and as it’s a low impact sport, the chances of injury are low while also good for recovery if you’re coming back from injury.”
Taking place over the weekend of 29th-31st March 2019, Duncan Goodhew, Olympic gold medallist and president of Swimathon, said: “It has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and mature into the great event it is today. Having started back in 1986, we surpassed the £50m milestone last year which was a massive achievement, and we’re hoping to continue to raise more money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie this year.
“Swimathon really gives everyone a chance to get active with friends and family, whilst doing some good at the same time. I am so proud that Swimathon gives so many people the chance to enjoy the water, get swimming and set themselves a challenge.”
New to 2019 is the Triple 5k challenge, which is specifically designed to test experienced swimmers, challenging them to swim 5k, three times. Swimmers can choose the sessions and venues where they take on the three-part challenge, which so far has proved popular since sign ups opened.
Last year, Swimathon raised £2.1 million, and is aiming to raise further vital funds this time around. Since Swimathon started 33 years ago, over 700,000 swimmers have dived into over 1,000 different pools across the UK, raising more than £50million for different charities.
For the past six years, Zoggs has been official Swim Brand Partner with Swimathon, whose goggles, swimsuits, learning aids and training accessories have helped millions of swimmers across the world learn to love swimming.
For further details about Swimathon, how to sign up and ideas how to fundraise, visit Swimathon.org
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Selena Colmer, Senior Events Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Cancer Research UK is delighted to be joining Marie Curie as the official charity partners of Swimathon. It’s so great to see so many people taking part in Swimathon to raise money for such vital causes. Swimming 5K is a great goal for people to set themselves, either for those new to swimming or more experienced swimmers. We look forward to building on the success as the partnership with Swimathon continues.”
Mark Winton, Marie Curie’s Head of Community Fundraising, said: “Swimathon is an annual tradition for many people, and we are proud to be part of such a prestigious and much-loved event.
Since Marie Curie first became a partner of Swimathon we have helped to recruit over 170,000 swimmers and raised over £13 million, which has enabled us to provide care and support to more people living with any terminal illness, and their families, to help them make the most of the time they have together.”
Mark Hammersley, CEO of Zoggs International Limited, said: “Zoggs has been a Swimathon partner for six years. We’re proud of the support our brand can add to such a fantastic event for yet another year in raising so much money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. At Zoggs we believe in as many people as possible swimming for fitness and most importantly for fun. The beauty of Swimathon is that it gives swimmers, at whatever level, a personal goal as part of a team or as an individual and at the same time raises money for great causes.”
For more information, please contact: info@swimathon.org
About Swimathon
Swimathon began in 1986 with 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 and since then Swimathon has seen over 700,000 participants at over 1,200 different pools across the UK, getting involved, swimming for the challenge and raising money for charity.
Swimathon attracts swimmers of all levels from experienced Swimathon participants to complete novices, this is reflected in the different challenges available to those taking part.
• Swimathon is the world's biggest fundraising swim, and will take place from the 29th- 31st March 2019
• The event will incorporate the individual 400m, 1.5k, 2.5k, 5k, the brand-new Triple 5k and team 5k and 1.5k challenges
• Swimathon started in 1986 and since then has raised over £50 million for charity
• 2019 marks the 32nd edition of Swimathon
• 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, Cancer Research UK & Marie Curie
www.swimathon.org
www.facebook.com/SwimathonChallenge
www.twitter.com/swimathon
https://www.instagram.com/swimathon_uk
About the Swimathon Foundation
• The Swimathon Foundation, a company limited by guarantee, is the independent UK registered charity (charity number 1123870) which owns the annual national Swimathon and certain other Swimathon branded events (“Swimathon Events”).
• The Swimathon Foundation was formed to protect the long-term future of the Swimathon Events and is the owner of those events.
• The Swimathon Foundation:
- selects the Swimathon's principal charity partners, which receive the majority of the fundraising income;
- operates a scheme under which grants of between £300 and £2,500 are made to local pools, operators, clubs, community organisations and charities that can demonstrate how funding will allow them to help more people participate in and enjoy the benefits of swimming.
- For further information visit the Swimathon Foundation website. at: www.swimathonfoundation.org. This website provides information about how to apply for a grant.
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.
For more information visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk
Like us at www.facebook.com/mariecurieuk
Follow us on www.twitter.com/mariecurieuk
If you’ve got questions about terminal illness or simply want someone to talk to, call the Marie Curie Support Line (0800 090 2309*)for free confidential support and practical information on all aspects of terminal illness. *Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
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 Zoggs
Being Aussie means we pretty much love everything to do with the water. We think the best way to fall in love with swimming is to make sure you have fun, whether you’re a beachgoer, learner or lane swimmer.
Our goggles, swimsuits, learning aids and training accessories are made to stand up to the Australian sun, sea and swimming pools. Because if they make the grade in Australia, we’re pretty sure they’ll do the same anywhere else in the world! You’ll find our products for sale online, on the high street and in more sports & leisure centres than you can take a dip at.
Zoggs launched in Australia back in 1992 and our products are available in 50 countries. For any Zoggs related press enquiries, please contact Charly.Dove@zoggs.com
About Swim England
Swim England is the national governing body for swimming in England. As a charity, it helps people learn how to swim, enjoy the water safely, and compete in all aquatic sports.
Swim England has a vision of a nation swimming and it strives to inspire everyone to enjoy the water in the way that suits them. Each month millions of people are able to enjoy swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming, having been through the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme.
Swim England also supports its members, clubs and athletes, and runs qualification and education programmes to develop the workforce. For more information visit swimming.org.
Swim Wales
Swim Wales is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Masters Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Artistic Swimming and Water Polo in Wales. Swimming is a sport for everyone and we are committed to developing the sport in an inclusive, equitable and fair way.
Our vision at Swim Wales is to be ‘A world leading NGB delivering excellence, inspiring our nation to enjoy, participate, learn, and compete in Welsh Aquatics’
Every day we look to inspire our members & delivery partners in the development of Swimming, providing leadership and expert support, resulting in more people participating in Wales and reaching their full potential.
Scottish Swimming
Scottish Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Open Water, Synchronised Swimming and Water Polo in Scotland. Our objectives focus on four key areas:
- Participation – to get more people swimming for leisure, health and fun.
- Development – to improve the delivery of swimming in Scotland through the development of learn to swim, clubs, volunteers, teachers and coaches and community partnerships.
- Performance – to improve the performance results of our Scottish swimmers through coaching and through our continuously evolving performance programme.
- Corporate Services – to lead a cutting edge organisation that supports our development, healthy living, and performance initiatives, including the attraction of resources to invest in our sport.