Olympians urge people to swim for loved ones at Swimathon 2020

Team GB swimming stars Mark Foster and Duncan Goodhew have urged people to sign up to Swimathon 2020 and swim for their loved ones who are living with a terminal illness or who have been affected by cancer.

Returning on 27-29 March for its 33^rd year, Swimathon 2020 hopes to encourage more than 21,000 swimmers nationwide to sign up and raise funds for Cancer Research UK and terminal illness charity, Marie Curie.

Foster, the former World, European and Commonwealth champion, said: “I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to sign up for Swimathon 2020 as every stroke you swim will help families in hugely difficult circumstances.

“Whether you prefer to stick to the shallow end, have swam The Channel or are somewhere in between, there’s a challenge for you, your friends and family.”

With a variety of distances – 400m, 1.5k, 2.5k and the Triple 5k – there’s a challenge for all ages and abilities, and swimmers can participate individually or as part of a team.

Goodhew, Olympic gold medallist and president of Swimathon, said: “It has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and grow to become the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim.

“Last year we surpassed the £52m milestone, since Swimathon began, which was a massive achievement. We’re hoping this year’s campaign will raise more than £2.2m, which would be a Swimathon record.”

Since its launch in 1988, Swimathon has seen over 700,000 participants take part at over 1,200 different pools across the UK and is now the world’s biggest fundraising swim.

To sign up to Swimathon 2020, or for more info, fundraising ideas and training plans, visit the Swimathon Foundation website: https://swimathonfoundation.org/

If you also fancy an open water fundraising challenge, the Open Water Swimathon will be taking place on 7-8 September 2020, which will also raise money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie: https://openwaterswimathon.org/