Swimathon 2020 comes to eastbourne’s Sovereign centre

Participants will be raising money for Cancer Research or Marie Curie when they don their swimming trunks and lower their goggles for the challenging swim, which will see them tackle distances from 400 metres all the way up to 5km, in a challenge designed to offer something suited to all skill levels.

This year’s event will take place from March 27-29. Those who can’t make the main event, however, can sign up to MySwimathon, which lasts from March 20 to April 5 and gives participants the chance to pick a date, time and venue that suits them.

Not that there is any shortage of space to take part.

As well as Eastbourne’s Sovereign Centre, the Swimathon will be coming to venues in Brighton, Hove, Crawley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and more.

This year’s event is being sponsored by Bethany Firth, the Northern Irish Paralympic star who clinched three golds at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and one at the London 2012 Paralympics.

Bethany, who is currently in training for the Tokyo Paralympics later this year, decided to support the Swimathon after her mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2018.

She said, “My mum’s experience means our family understands all too clearly why events such as Swimathon are so vital to support the work of charities like Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.”

She is keen to suggest that Swimathon is not just for international calibre swimmers.

She said, “It really doesn’t matter if you’re not the fittest or the fastest.

“I hope swimmers young and old, new and experienced will dive in and help thousands of families affected by cancer.”

Mark Winton, head of community fund-raising at Marie Curie, said, “Over the years, Swimathon has raised millions for charities including Marie Curie, which has enabled us to provide care and support to more people living with a terminal illness.”

To sign up to Swimathon 2020 and find the nearest venue, visit swimathon.org