# Swimathon celebrates 30th anniversary milestone

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/10/swimathon-celebrates-30th-anniversary-milestone/
- Published: 2017-01-10T10:15:24+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Over 600 pools are taking part in this year’s 30^(th) [Swimathon](http://www.swimathon.org/‎),
with participants raising funds for [Marie Curie](https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/).**

Swimathon will take place across the weekend of 7-9 April, with Marie Curie the 
official charity for the 2017 event. Participants can swim 5k, 2.5k or 1.5k as individual,
or 5k or 1.5k in a team, and this year, the event is headed up by Olympic gold medalist
Duncan Goodhew and the sporting soprano and o**f**ficial anthem singer for the England
Rugby Team, Laura Wright (main image).

Swimathon began in 1986 as a pilot programme for swimmers in London only. Since 
the launch of the annual event in 1988, nearly 700,000 participants have taken part
and raised £46 million, which has been distributed to 36 different charities.

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Goodhew, who is also Swimathon president, said:

> “For the last 29 years it has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and mature
> into the event it is today. 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 people living with any terminal 
> illness, and their families.”

Other charities supported by Swimathon in the past include [Comic Relief](http://www.comicrelief.com/),
[Macmillan](http://www.macmillan.org.uk/‎), NSPCC, The British Heart Foundation,
and The Prince’s Trust.

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