Only four weeks to go until the worlds biggest fundraising swim at Tones Taunton Pool.

With Swimathon 2011 just around the corner, social enterprise Tone’s Taunton Poolis encouraging people in Taunton Deane and the surrounding areas to take part in their sessions on the 8^th to the 10^th of April. Taunton Pool is one of 580 pools across the UK taking part in Swimathon 2011. Here is an opportunity for locals to take on the swim of their lives, and join thousands of other swimmers in the world’s biggest fundraising swim for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation. 

Entering  Swimathon 2011 could help you get fit for spring. Swimming is proven to be a great form of exercise whatever your ability, to help you relax your mind and body, and to help build endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness.  For that extra bit of impetus, Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon President,has created a six week training programme which is available on www.swimathon.org. 

For those who prefer to cheer on from the sidelines, they can still do their bit by sponsoring local people who are taking on the Swimathon challenge by going to ‘sponsor a swimmer’ on www.swimathon.org. Alternatively, they can volunteer to be a lap counter (email info@swimathon.org) at Taunton Pool.

The majority of funds raised will allow Marie Curie Nurses to provide free care to people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own home or in one of the charity’s hospices.

Ruth Edwards, Duty Manager at Taunton Pool says, “We have some swimmers who have decided that they want to go even further to raise some extra money for Swimathon. Instead of swimming the offered 5k swim they have asked to do a 10k swim! It’s amazing that Taunton has so many dedicated swimmers who are keen to use their hobby for such a good cause.”

Duncan Goodhew emphasises that, ‘Swimathon is a great way of raising money to help thousands of terminally ill people across the UK. Swimming is also up with the highest calorie burning activities, such as running: it works and tones your entire body. It also promotes more supple, flexible muscles, tendons and ligaments, which has long term health gains. So shake off those winter blues, get down to your local leisure centre and start training for the swim of your life.’

Swimathon2011 is open to everyone, encouraging people to challenge themselves to swim 1.5k, 2.5k or the ultimate 5k. For those interested in joining forces with friends, colleagues or family, the Team 5k challenge can also be completed by up to five people together.  Take the plunge and help make Swimathon 2011 a huge success. 

To find out more about Swimathon or to enter the 2011 challenge visit www.swimathon.org.