Swimathon to make a splash

This year’s Swimathon will take place between Friday March 18 and Sunday 20, so there is plenty of time to set up a team or train for a personal challenge.

The event, which was established in 1986, will raise vital funds for Sport Relief and is open to all ages and abilities. Last year Freedom Leisure staff and members raised an impressive £46,060.61 for the annual event.

Rye Sports Centre are offering a range of distances and challenges to suit swimmers of all fitness levels.

Individuals can choose from 1.5k, 2.5k or 5k distances, and there are also team challenge distances of 1.5k and 5k.

Teams can split the distance however they choose, to cater for the strongest and weakest swimmers in the squad.

Swimmers looking for a helping hand with their swimming technique or with putting together a swimming training plan can visit their local centre where Freedom Leisure staff will be on hand to offer training advice.

On the day of the event, the Freedom Leisure team will be out in force to encourage and support swimmers.

“We are delighted to support the Swimathon again this year,” says Freedom Leisure Centre Manager Ian Oliver. “Swimming is one of the best workouts for total body fitness, so it’s a perfect opportunity to raise money for charity while improving your health.

“Sport Relief is a truly worthwhile cause so we’re encouraging as many people as possible to take the plunge and join in the fun.”

Sport Relief is a biennial charity event from Comic Relief, in association with BBC Sport, which brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

In the last event, in 2014, 140,000 people ran, swam or cycled to raise money for the appeal. It raised an incredible £71.820,731.

Free packs are available for local schools by visiting the Sport Relief website.

Celebrities are getting involved and Jo Brand will be attempting to walk 150 miles coast to coast from Hull to Liverpool.

For further information on the Swimathon and to register visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk or www.swimathon.org.

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