WaterAid invites swimmers to take the plunge and help transform lives with clean water

WaterAid has announced its largest swimming programme to date, from its participation in some of the UK’s largest swimming events to its annual Swim Marathon, offering swimmers of all abilities the chance to take the plunge and help transform lives around the world with clean water.

Events this year include the Great North Swim, Europe’s biggest open water swimming event with around 10,000 participants, which will take place at Windermere in the Lake District in June.

In July, swimmers can take part in the iconic Henley Swim Festival, based on the banks of the river Thames in Henley, while also raising money for WaterAid’s lifesaving work.

Organised by London Marathon Events, Swim Serpentine is set in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. It offers a range of distances for swimmers of all levels to compete and raise money for WaterAid.

WaterAid first engaged with swimming in 2020 when they developed virtual swim event Swim Marathon. It asks swimmers to swim a total of 26miles (42 KM) in open water, or a pool, over a 12-week period.

The program then grew in 2021, when WaterAid secured an official partnership with the Great Swim Series with events including Swim Serpentine. The program has grown again this year with the addition of Henley Swim Festival.

Jennie York, Director of Communications and Fundraising, WaterAid, said:

“The swimming events across so many beautiful venues in the UK are a reminder of how lucky we are to enjoy water, both through leisure and our access to safe drinking water. Yet there are still 771 million people around the world – that is one in ten – who do not have clean water close to home, forcing millions to spend hours each day collecting water and risk their health by drinking dirty water.

“By taking part in one of WaterAid’s swimming challenges, people can help give the gift of water to communities around the world.”

Find out more and download a free training plan here.