Swimathon celebrates 30th Birthday

Registration has opened for the annual event and more than 600 venues across the country will be hosting sessions. Swimmers must choose a distance for their challenge and then swim it, either alone or in teams, to raise money for Marie Curie.

Register for Swimathon before Monday 19 December and you’ll get 50% off the price of your challenge!Swimathon began in 1986 as a pilot programme, which 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.

The event attracts swimmers of all abilities, from experienced swimmers through to novices in the pool. Entrants can choose to take on a distance of 1.5k, 2.5k or 5k and head down to their closest participating pool to complete the challenge.

Can’t make it to a participating pool?

Anyone who is unable to make it down to their local pool for the specified dates can take part in SimplySwim instead. This challenge allows people to complete a distance swim when and where it suits them, rather than at an organised Swimathon session.

Swimathon President and Olympic gold-medallist Duncan Goodhew 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 will also see four Swimathon veterans completing their 30th challenge, having competed at every single event since it was first founded in 1986.

• You can find out more information about Swimathon and enter the event at www.swimathon.org.