Star date: 26th March 2017

SALFORD SWIMMERS CAN RAISE FUNDS FOR MARIE CURIE CHARITY

This year, the national Swimathon celebrates its thirtieth anniversary and is looking to raise more money than ever for the Marie Curie charity. In Salford, swimmers are being asked to sign up for the challenge to swim 1.5k, 2.5k or 5k at Worsley Leisure Centre during the weekend of 7th-9th April.

Full details here...

This year's Swimathon is to take place during the weekend of 7th-9th April at Worsley Leisure Centre, and Salford swimmers are asked to sign up and get sponsored for Marie Curie, this year's official charity.

Marie Curie is the UK's leading charity for people with any terminal illness, and helps people make the most of the time they have together by delivering expert hands-on care, emotional support, research and guidance.

Marie Curie Community Fundraiser, Sophie Yates, is encouraging people in Salford to head down to Worsley to take in the Swimathon Challenge, which, this year, celebrates its thirtieth anniversary...

"We're looking for swimmers to help make this the biggest and best Swimathon yet" she says "In 2015, 22,600 swimmers took part and helped raise a brilliant £1.9million for Marie Curie – a fantastic achievement but one we are hoping to beat this year."

People of all ages can swim 5k, 2.5k or 1.5k distances individually, or, as a team do 5k or 1.5k distances to raise funds for the charity.

"For the last 29 years it has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and mature into the great event it is today" enthuses Duncan Goodhew, Olympic gold medalist and Swimathon President, who is heading up this year's campaign alongside sporting soprano Laura Wright.

"Nowadays there are thousands of well organised sports participation events, mostly running and cycling, which raise money for charity but that wasn't the case in 1988 when we launched the annual event" he explains "Swimathon really was ahead of its time giving people a chance to get active and do some good at the same time. I am so proud of both Swimathon's longevity and its legacy.

"This year, Swimathon again provides a fantastic opportunity to bring together swimmers of all ages and abilities to raise vital funds for Marie Curie to continue their work caring for and supporting people living with a terminal illness, and their families" he adds.

To sign up for Swimathon and for lots more details see the website www.Swimathon.org