GL1 limbers up to take on the world’s biggest fundraising swim

GL1 has once again joined in to take on the Swimathon challenge and encourage swimmers in the Gloucester area to take on Swimathon distance challenges as a team or as an individual to raise funds for Marie Curie.

Held over the weekend of 17-19 April, Swimathon 2015 is expecting thousands of swimmers to take on the challenge and go that extra length to help support Marie Curie provide care for people with terminal illnesses across the UK. Marie Curie provides hours of health care as well as professionals to support them and their families through those tough times.

After a year away, Marie Curie is returning as charity partner for Swimathon 2015 with the aim to reach even higher fundraising numbers than in the past. The involvement of Marie Curie with Swimathon goes back to 2007, reaching the incredible sum of over £9 million from 2007-2013.

Julie Barnes Swimming Development Officer adds: “Swimathon is a fantastic way to bring our community together, to raise money for charity, and provides a great challenge for our dedicated swimmers.”

Notes to Editors:

About Swimathon

• Swimathon is the world's biggest fundraising swim, and will take place from 17-19 April 2015
• The event will incorporate the 5k, 2.5k, 1.5k and Team 5k/1.5k challenges for Marie Curie
• Swimathon started in 1986 and since then more than half a million swimmers have taken part, raising over £40 million for charity
• Pools and operators continue to encourage visitors to enter Swimathon, with more than 68% of participants in 2014 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 Comic Relief, Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, The British Heart Foundation, The Prince’s Trust and, most recently, Marie Curie and The Swimathon Foundation

About The Swimathon Foundation

• The Swimathon Foundation, a company limited by guarantee, is the independent registered charity, which owns the annual national Swimathon event (charity number 1123870).
• The Swimathon Foundation was formed in 2001 to guarantee the long-term future of the Swimathon event.
• The Swimathon Foundation is the legal rights owner of the Swimathon event and as such is responsible for not only the staging of the Swimathon but also the management and distribution of the funds raised by the event's participants.
• The Swimathon Foundation Trustees select the Swimathon's principal charity partner, which receives the majority of the fundraising income, as well as awarding grants to local organisations whose projects help promote swimming in their communities
• The Swimathon Foundation provides grants of between £300 and £2,500 to organisations including swimming pools, operators, clubs, community organisations and charities that can demonstrate how funding will allow them to help more people participate in and enjoy swimming and to make swimming more accessible.
• For further information visit the Swimathon Foundation website at: www.swimathonfoundation.org. This website provides information about how to apply for a grant.

About Marie Curie

• Marie Curie has been the official charity partner of Swimathon between 2007 – 2013, and is back again for 2015
• Swimmers raised over £9 million for the charity between 2007 – 2013, providing thousands of hours of nursing care and support to terminally ill people and their families.
• Marie Curie is the leading charity providing care and support to people living with any terminal illness and their families.
• Every year the charity cares for around 40,000 people with terminal illnesses out in the community or in one of its nine hospices.
• The charity is a leader in research into the best ways of caring for people with a terminal illness. In addition to this the charity designs and advises on end of life services and works to ensure that the best possible care and patient choice is at the heart of commissioning end of life care across the UK. All Marie Curie services are completely free of charge to patients and their families.

About 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. * www.zoggs.com

About British Swimming

• British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (ASA), Scotland (Scottish ASA) and Wales (Swim Wales). 
• The ASA is the English national governing body for swimming, diving, synchronised swimming and water polo. It organises competitions throughout England, establishes the laws of the sport, and operates a comprehensive certification and education programmes for teachers, coaches and officials. There are 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs, which are supported by the ASA through a national, regional and county structure. Millions of children have been taught to swim through the ASA’s learn to swim programmes. The ASA also develops programmes and initiatives to increase the number of people swimming and swimming more often.

Julie Barnes
Email: julie.barnes@aspiretrust.org.uk
Tel: 01452 396658

GL1 Leisure Centre is Gloucester’s premier venue for numerous activities and entertainment. With a magnificent complex of four pools, a fitness arena, an exercise studio, a health spa and sports hall – there isn’t much you can’t do at GL1.

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