Swimming South Africa Backs World Record Attempt as Fundraiser

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 25. A host of South Africa's top swimmers will be in action at Swimming SA's 24 Hour Swimathon 2010 at the Ellis Park Swimming Pool from midday Friday, 5 March to midday the next day in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most swimmers participating in a 24 hour swimming relay. The record is currently held by Pretoria's St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls with 3941 swimmers.

Ryk Neethling, Mandy Loots, Chanelle van Wyk, George Du Rand, Lyndon Ferns, Garth Tune, Thabang Moeketsane, Oneida Cooper, Theo Vorster and Ricky Ellis will all swim 20 meter relay lengths together with development, club, community, school and master swimmers, as well as members from the general public and corporate companies, to raise funds for the national aquatics federation's Learn to Swim programme.

"Apart from the record breaking attempt, the event is a fundraising occasion which will unite adults, swimming celebrities and children new to the sport in a mass participation event to highlight the plight of the millions of South Africans who cannot yet swim," said Swimming SA CEO Shaun Adriaanse.

The funds raised via this initiative will allow for the Learn to Swim programme to place portable pools in communities that do not have swimming facilities, especially in the rural areas. Throughout the year, the Learn to Swim programme raises water safety awareness in schools and facilities in an effort to curb drowning around the country. The event also aims to highlight the safe use of water for sport and recreation in conjunction with the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs' National Water Week later this month.

Participants can arrive on the day to enter for the event or pre-enter using the entry forms available on Swimming SA's website. The entry fee is R 20 per person and is payable on the event day. The public is also welcome to make further contributions, apart from the entry fee, towards the Learn to Swim programme at the venue. In addition to participating in the world record attempt, everybody is invited to also enter Swimming SA's race categories where swimmers can make up their own teams for relays! A portapool exhibition, free recreational swimming and a kiddies corner, including a jumping castle will add to the festive atmosphere.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

Mandy Loots at Samsung South Africa Grand Prix

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