Bracknell

Bracknell Forest residents will be making a big splash at Bracknell Leisure Centre on Saturday, March 24, when they take part in the annual Swimathon.

The swimmers will be raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation. The foundation provides money for charities and not-for-profit organisations which work to benefit the health and well-being of people who live around participating swimming pools.

Bracknell Volunteers will be setting their own choice of distance ranging from five kilometres – which requires six weeks of training; two-and-a-half kilometres for intermediate swimmers and one-and-a-half kilometres for occasional swimmers.

If participants want to team up with colleagues, friends and family, the five kilometre challenge can be completed in a team of up to five people; or just take part in the Simply Swim challenge – where you can cover any distance at any pool at any time.

Jessica Taylor, community fundraiser for Berkshire Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “The atmosphere at the event is going to be explosive. It’s going to be amazing to see everybody in our community coming together for this healthy active challenge, achieving personal goals and raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care to help other people.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: “The clock is counting down on this event and this really is your last chance to enter this superb fundraising event and raise money for some worthy charities.

"This event has always been well supported by Bracknell Forest residents who recognise the dual benefits of supporting so great causes while taking healthy exercise.”

The Swimathon is taking place across 600 swimming pools nationwide, over four days - March 22 to 25. Registration is open until 11.45pm on Tuesday, March 20.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council