Ilkeston’s Victoria Park Leisure Centre will host a record-breaking number of swimmers for this weekend’s high-profile charity Swimathon challenge.

Nearly 60 fundraisers will be ‘in the swim’ over the three-day charity event – meaning Ilkeston has the eighth largest entry of pools across the East Midlands region.

The nationwide Swimathon sees individuals and teams swim various distances – 1.5k, 2.5k, 5k or a team 5k – to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and this year’s events will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (16^th, 17^th and 18^th April).

Erewash Borough Council’s Victoria Park Leisure Centre has hosted Swimathon events over the last decade, but this year has seen a record entry, with regular users of the Ilkeston pool all keen to take part.

Leisure Centre staff have also joined forces to do their bit for the event and will take part in the 5k team challenge as ‘Hardly Athletic’.

Local residents can go along as spectators to cheer on the fundraisers and help to make the Swimathon a colourful occasion. Challenges will be held on Friday 6am-11am; Saturday 8am-11am and Sunday 1pm-4pm.

Volunteers to help ‘man’ the charity event are also needed and anyone wanting more information can contact Victoria Park Leisure Centre on 0115 944 0400.

• There are only a very few places left for anyone interested in signing up for the Swimathon. Full details are available on the official website www.swimathon.org. Swimathon 2010 is open to everyone, encouraging people to challenge themselves to swim 5k, 2.5k or 1.5k. The 5k team challenge is for up to five people.

Notes to Editors

1. Swimathon will run between 16-18 April 2010. Entry fee is £9.50 for individuals and £19.00 for a team, with a concessionary half price available for unemployed, under 16’s, students, registered disabled and senior citizens.
2. Swimathon launched in 1986 and is the world’s biggest swimming fundraising event. Over half a million people have taken part and raised over £32 million for charity.

70% of funds raised by participants in the 2010 national Swimathon will be used by Marie Curie Cancer Care - see (www.mariecurie.org.uk). The remaining 30% will be used by The Swimathon Foundation - see (www.swimathonfoundation.org).