Swimmers in Guildford will dive into the world’s biggest fundraising swim at Spectrum on 28 – 29 April*. They will take on one of the five Swimathon Weekend 2012 challenges, raising money for either Marie Curie Cancer Care or Sport Relief.

In its 25th Anniversary, Swimathon has joined forces with British Swimming and the BBC’s Big Splash, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief, to promote what is hoped will be the biggest Swimathon Weekend ever.

The Swimathon Weekend 2012 will give hundreds of swimmers in the region the opportunity to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care through Swimathon’s established Distance Challenges and for Sport Relief through the new ‘Big Splash Mile’. Swimathon Weekend 2012 is the perfect way to start the New Year and a new you.

Whatever your ability, swimming is a great form of exercise, and is relaxing for the mind and body. Swimming also helps to build endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness.  Entries for the Swimathon Weekend 2012 opened last week with the first 10,000 people to register for the Swimathon Weekend online at www.swimathon.org before 31 January 2012 will enjoy a half price discount!

Swimathon Weekend participants can raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care by swimming the 5k, 2.5k or Team 5k challenges, or for Sport Relief by swimming the ‘Big Splash Mile’, individually or as part of a team.

Simon Tomlins, Pools Manager at Guildford Spectrum commented on the Swimathon Weekend 2012, “It is a fantastic way to bring our community together, to raise money for charity, and provides a great challenge.” Funds raised by taking on the Swimathon Distance Challenges for Marie Curie Cancer Care will provide free nursing care and support for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Money raised by the public for the Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief will be spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives; both here, at home in the UK, and across the world's poorest countries.

Be one of the first 10,000 people to sign up online for a Swimathon Weekend session before 31 January 2012, and you’ll enjoy half price entry. Swimmer entry is open at www.swimathon.org until 25 April 2012.

*in Spectrum's 25 Metre Pool on Saturday 28th April, 2.00pm - 5.00pm or Sunday 29th April, 8am - 11am