Can’t swim yet? Then take the plunge for Swimathon

Take the plunge by taking part in next month’s Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Swimathon.

The pools at Ashford’s Stour Centre and Tenterden’s leisure centre are among 14 in Kent hosting Swimathons.

Thousands of swimmers across the country will take to the water to take part in Swimathon and raise funds for good causes.

Swimathon started in 1986 and since then more than 500,000 swimmers have taken part, raising over £42 million for charity.

And this year the charity is encouraging inexperienced swimmers to make Swimathon their first ever swimming challenge.

This initiative comes at a time when swimming, though still the highest in sport participation numbers, continues to take a downfall.

According to the Amateur Swimming Association, one in five adults in England can’t swim.

To attempt to change this statistic, Swimathon have chal- lenged five UK learn-to-swim groups to take on a Swimathon challenge as an end motivation to their learnings.

Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon ambassador Duncan Goodhew said: “Taking part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Swimathon gives you the motivation to get your costume on, jump in the pool and get swimming.

“There’s nothing better than getting active and there’s no better way than in the pool.”

Swimming is an essential life skill and with the right support and guidance the charity says it is never too late to learn how to swim.

More and more swimming pools across the country offer junior and adult classes.

Swimathon is hoping to inspire hundreds of non-swimmers that they too can learn to swim.

The Swimathon fundraiser runs from Friday to Sunday, March 18 to 20.

Participants can either swim just one length for SimplySwim or take on individual or team distance swims with friends and family.

Registration for Swimathon 2016 is open until Wednesday, March 16. To enter visit www. Swimathon.org

Swimming is an essential life skill and it’s never too late to learn says Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew