A FORMER Olympian is calling on people across Rugby and Lutterworth to take the plunge and sign up for an annual sponsored swimming event which raises money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
Mark Foster is urging people of all ages and abilities to enter Swimathon 2022.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre in Rugby and Lutterworth Sports Centre are hosting sessions for the nationwide fund-raiser on May 6-8.
Swimathon is open to all swimmers individually or in teams, with distance options from 400m up to 30.9km.
After another challenging year for the sport due to the pandemic, Mark is championing the positive power of swimming to help inspire people to get back to the pool.
He said: “Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise, with a wide range of benefits for both your physical and mental health and is accessible to people with varying abilities and needs. Whether you’re a keen swimmer who is in the pool all the time, prefer to be in open water or if you are just dipping your toes in for the first time, Swimathon is the perfect challenge for everyone.
“That’s why I’m asking everyone to get involved and feel the benefits of this fantastic sport whilst raising money for two great charities in Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.”
Swimathon is the world’s largest annual swimming fundraiser. Since launching in 1986, more than 750,000 swimmers have taken part, raising over £55 million for charitable causes. This year will also see the Swimathon Foundation donate £2.50 from the entry fee of everybody taking part at an official Swimathon venue to help protect these pools for the future.
Paula Young, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Warwickshire, said: “It really doesn’t matter if you’re not the fittest or the fastest, Swimathon is such a fun and simple way to encourage people to get swimming – all while supporting causes which are close to the hearts of so many.
“One in two of us will get cancer, but all of us can support the research that will beat it. From proving the link between smoking and cancer to laying the foundations for modern radiotherapy – our scientists have been at the forefront of cancer research for 120 years.
“That’s why we’re urging swimmers to dive in this spring, raise money and help us keep investing in science today to deliver the treatments of tomorrow. Together we will beat cancer.”
Marie Curie Nurse Janet Lockheart and Healthcare Assistant Amy Chellew will be taking part in Swimathon this year, after originally planning to do it in 2020.
Janet said: “We decided to do Swimathon to raise money to support the wonderful team at Marie Curie and the people that we care for. We’ve seen first-hand the difference fundraising can make to families that need our support, so to be able to do this for them, and for those supported by Cancer Research UK is amazing.
“Swimming is a great way to get fit and raise money, so we’re really excited – we’ve been waiting two years to say we’ve completed Swimathon.”
Any swimmers who can’t make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon, which takes place from April 29 to May 15, and choose a time and venue that suits them.
Visit www.swimathon.org to sign up. Between March 8-16, use the code ‘SPRINGSALE35’ for a 35 per cent discount off the registration fee.
