SWIMMERS INDUNSTABLE ROSE TO THE

SWIMATHON 2013 CHALLENGE

Swimmers from the Dunstable areatook on a challenge forSwimathon 2013 at Dunstable Leisure Centre between 26-28April 2013. Over 23,000 swimmers of all ages and abilities completed their Swimathonchallenge in 616 pools across the UK, helping to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Josie Bryantcommented: “This year’s event was more exciting than ever, with supporters cheering on from the sidelines. Congratulations to all the swimmers who trained so hard to complete their challenge. They should be very proud of their achievements.’

Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon President, said: “Swimathon 2013 was a huge success. It is great to see so many people take on this fantastic fundraising event and make 2013 even more memorable for sport. The event’s ability to provide challenging swims and raise money for great causes remains as strong as ever.”

Marie Curie Cancer Care gives people with all terminal illnesses the choice to die at home. Funds raised by taking on the Swimathon Distance Challenges will help Marie Curie nurses provide them and their families with free hands-on care and emotional support, in their own homes, right until the end.

Zoggs UK Marketing Manager, David Annand said “Zoggs are extremely proud to be partnering Swimathon 2013. We have a great passion for swimming and believe it to be one of life’s great pleasures. As the leading swim brand in UK Leisure we encourage everyone – whatever age, sex or ability – at all swimming pools nationwide to take part in this great challenge and raise much needed funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

To sponsor one of our swimmers, go online to

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For more information please contact, Josie Bryant SwimSchool Principal

01582 608107 or Email

Notes to Editors:

Swimathon

  • Swimathon is the world's biggest fundraising swim, and will take place from 26 to 28 April 2013.
  • In its 26thyear, Swimathon 2013 will engage even more swimmers than ever before. The event will incorporate the 5k, 2.5k, 1.5kand Team 5k and 1.5k challenges for Marie Curie Cancer.
  • Swimathon started in 1986 and since then more than half a million swimmers have taken part, raising over £38 million for charity.
  • Pools and operators continue to encourage visitors to enter Swimathon, with more than 33% of participants in 2012 hearing about the event through their swimming pool. Their continued support is extremely important to the success of the event.
  • Swimathon has raised funds for a variety of nominated charities, including Macmillan Cancer support, NSPCC, The British Heart Foundation, The Prince’s Trust and, most recently, Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation.

The Swimathon Foundation

  • The Swimathon Foundation, a company limited by guarantee, is the independent registered charity which owns the annual national Swimathon event.
  • The Swimathon Foundation through its trading subsidiary arranges the staging and promotion of the Swimathon event in a nationwide network of participating swimming pools, to encourage members of the public, whatever their age or ability, to understand and realise the benefits of regular swimming as a means to improve health and wellbeing and to achieve personal fitness goals.
  • The Swimathon Foundation selects a national charity partner to promote itself and its charitable activities in association with the Swimathon and to receive funds from members of the public, including those participating in the Swimathon, in support of its activities. For 2013 Swimathon, the selected charity is Marie Curie Cancer Care.
  • In addition, the Swimathon Foundation aims to support local communities in their efforts to promote the benefits of physical activity, particularly through swimming.
  • The Swimathon Foundation is a charity registered at the Charities Commission Charity Number.1123870.

Marie Curie Cancer Care

  • The official charity partner of Swimathon since 2007
  • Swimmers have raised over £7 millionfor the charity over the past six years, providing thousands of hours of nursing care and support to terminally ill people and their families
  • Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of the UK’s largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it is best known for its network of Marie Curie Nurses working in the community to provide end of life care, totally free for patients in their own homes
  • The charity expects to provide care to around 35,000 people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in the community and in its nine hospices this year. Research shows around 63 per cent of people would like to die at home if they had a terminal illness, with a sizeable minority opting for hospice care. However, more than 50 per cent of cancer deaths still occur in hospital, the place people say they would least like to be. Since 2004 Marie Curie Cancer Care has been campaigning for more patients to have the choice to cared for and die in their place of choice

British Swimming

  • British Swimming is the National Governing Body of swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain.
  • British Swimming is a federation of the national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association), and Wales (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association).

Zoggs

  • Born in Australia, Zoggs has a passion for swimming and believes it’s one of life’s greatest pleasures, whether you swim every day, have a love for the great outdoors or simply enjoy taking the plunge when you’re on holiday.
  • This passion began with goggles and now Zoggs is a one stop shop for everything swimming: from goggles and training aids to sun protection and children’s games, as well as an extensive range of swimwear.
  • Zoggs products are designed to enhance the freedom and fun of recreational and fitness swimming, for all swimmers, whatever their age or ability.