Team GB stars say dive in and make splash for charities
LOUGHBOROUGH graduates and Team GB swimmers Sarah Vasey and Joe Litchfield are calling on people to take the plunge and sign up for Swimathon 2023.
The two swimming heroes are urging people of all ages and abilities to take part in the annual fundraiser which raises money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.
The sponsored event takes place at over 450 pools across the UK from May 12 to 14, including at Loughborough, Oadby, Hinckley, Wigston, Coalville, Melton, Ashby, Lutterworth, and Enderby.
Sarah, a graduate of Loughborough College, started training at British Swimming’s Loughborough Performance Centre after beginning her career with her home City of Derby. She won gold in the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Although now retired from competitive swimming, Sarah remains a passionate ambassador for the sport.
Joe trains at British Swimming’s Loughborough Performance Centre and is an alumnus of Loughborough University. Originally from Pontefract, Joe is the son of professional goalkeeper Peter Litchfield.
With a variety of distances to choose from - from 400m up to 30.9k - Swimathon offers a challenge for swimmers young and old, new and experienced. People can take part individually or as part of a team.
Any swimmers who can’t make one of the organised sessions can sign up to MySwimathon, taking place from April 28 to May 21, and choose a time and venue that suits them.
Signing up now guarantees a discounted entry fee. And for those determined to be more active this January, it can help people to stay on track by having an achievable goal to aim for - supporting good causes, while burning off any excess Christmas calories.
Joe and Sarah hope as many people as possible will be inspired to get off the starting blocks and jump at the chance to help thousands of families across the UK.
Joe said: “In swimming, if you can dedicate yourself to achieving your goal, it’s a great feeling when you succeed. All that focus, resilience and effort helps you come out of the experience a different person. But with Swimathon, no matter what the distance or time, you really will be doing your personal best by helping to fund the work of vital charities. There’s no better motivation than that, so I hope people will dive in and take part.”
Sarah added: “Whether you supercharge your swim and take on the 30.9k or 5k is more in your lane – with Swimathon it’s up to you what you feel comfortable with. There’s a distance to suit everyone, so I hope people across Leicestershire will dip their toe in the water and sign up. Swimming is a great form of exercise and there are so many benefits to taking part, not least the opportunity to help support the work of two incredibly important charities.”
Swimathon is the world’s largest annual swimming fundraiser. Since launching in 1986, more than 750,000 swimmers have taken part, raising over £55 million for charitable causes.
The Swimathon Foundation also donates £2.50 from the entry fee of everybody taking part at an official Swimathon venue to help protect these pools for the future.
Jane Redman, Cancer Research UK spokesman for Leicestershire, said: “It doesn’t matter if you’re not the fittest or the fastest, everyone who takes part in Swimathon is worthy of a medal. It’s such a fun and simple way to encourage people to get swimming – all while supporting causes which are close to the hearts of so many.
Marie Curie’s director of community fundraising Jayne Waterhouse said: “The money Marie Curie receives through Swimathon goes towards helping our nurses, bereavement counsellors, and support line staff.”
Sign up for Swimathon 2023 swimathon.org at