CHALLENGE,  NEWS

MySwimathon opens today

Join the world’s largest annual fundraising swim at a venue of your choice and at a time that suits you with MySwimathon.

Would you like to take part in Swimathon – the world’s largest annual fundraising swim – but can’t make it to one of their 450 venues for the weekend 12-14 May 2023? MySwimathon allows you more flexibility around your swim, so you can take part wherever you are. 

MySwimathon, which allows you to choose any length, at any venue and at a time that suits you, opens today, 28 April, and runs until 21 May. It’s a great option if you want more flexibility around your swim, or perhaps if you’re more of an independent swimmer. 

Plus, if you really want to challenge yourself, there’s also a distance that’s exclusively available on MySwimathon – the 30.9. A chance to combine all of the other distances into one challenge, this incredibly popular option is great for those looking to push themselves over the three weeks of MySwimathon. 

Every entrant will receive a swimming cap and a Swimathon medal in the post. By taking part, you will also be helping support your local community pool, while raising money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie UK.

How does MySwimathon work?

Those taking part in MySwimathon can enter any of the set challenges – Individual 400m, Individual 1.5k, Individual 2.5k, Individual 5k, Team 1.5k, Team 5k, The Triple 5k and The 30.9 – or even your own distance, if you prefer. 

Once you have registered, you can complete your swim in one go or spread it across multiple sessions between Friday 28 April and Sunday 21 May. After your swim, simply go to your Swimathon dashboard to log your result or email the swimathon team at info@swimathon.org. Once your time has been submitted, you will be able to access your certificate in the Results area of your account, and your well-deserved medal will be sent via post. 

Prefer to join an organised event?

Swimathon takes place 12-14 May 2023, with over 450 swimming pools and lidos across the UK taking part in the world’s largest annual fundraising swim. Participants will be pulling on their caps to raise much needed funds for Swimathon’s charity partners: Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end-of-life charity and Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading cancer charity.

Since its inception in 1986, over 700,000 people have taken part in Swimathon and over £52 million has been raised for a range of wonderful charities. “Swimathon is a great way to get people of all ages and abilities into swimming, all whilst raising money for good causes like cancer research,” said Gareth Mulcahy, Head of Events and Sports at Cancer Research UK.

“Sadly, one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but through challenges like Swimathon we can all do our bit to support the research that will beat it. That’s why we’re urging people across the UK to dive into their local pools during the Swimathon weekend to raise money and help us continue our life-saving work towards a world where people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Find out more about taking part in My Swimathon. Find ten outdoor venues where you can take part in Swimathon on 12-14 May 2023.

Outdoor Swimmer readers can get 25% off their Swimathon 2023 entry! Use code OSLC25 to save 25% on your entry. Registrations close on Tuesday 9 May.

Stay up to date with The Dip, our free weekly outdoor swimming newsletter.

Jo is the Gear Editor for Outdoor Swimmer and also writes news and features for the website. A keen open water swimmer and long-distance walker, she loves seeking out lakes and lidos close to her home in the Mendip Hills, Somerset. She is the author of The Slow Traveller, editor and founder of independent magazine, Ernest, and has previously tested outdoor clothing and kit for BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC Focus and Ernest Journal.