Duncan Goodhew & Swimathon Foundation Launch COVID-19 Relief Fund To Support Aquatics Community
The Swimathon Foundation and its president, Duncan Goodhew, the Olympic 100m breaststroke champion of 1980, today launched a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help the swimming and aquatics community in Britain deal with the impact and effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Foundation announced that it “will allocate grants of between £250 and £1,000 to small swimming and aquatic organisations experiencing short-term financial hardship from the effects of COVID-19, especially where access to financial support is not otherwise available”.
“These range from National Governing Body Affiliated Swim Clubs, Aquatic Clubs and Swim Schools to Independent Swimming Organisations.”
Duncan Goodhew and the Swimathon Foundation aim to make the money stgretch to the little fish in programs far and wide in COVID-19 lockdown – Photo Courtesy: The Swimathon Foundation
Swimathon President and Olympic 100m breaststroke champion of 1980, Duncan Goodhew, said:
“I’m thrilled that we’re able to support members of the swimming community at this difficult time. Almost all swimming clubs are run by a few individuals who put in an immense amount of voluntary time to keep clubs afloat. Now that hard times have hit, they may be really struggling with all of the costs associated. These are the unsung heroes of the sport and it’s so important that we do all we can to help them get through this tough time.”
The Swimathon Foundation, founded in 1997 to bring together the swimming community, describes among its goals “to spread the joy and benefits of swimming whilst raising money for some of the UK’s most deserving charities”.
The organisation noted: “The Foundation organises ‘Swimathon’, the UK’s biggest annual recreational swimming event. It takes place over one weekend at over 600 pools across the UK and 750,000 people have taken part since the first event in 1986, raising over £50 million for charities in the process. This year’s event has been rearranged for 16-18 October.”
Swimathon Chairman, Anthony Kendall, said:
“Swimathon has been raising money for good causes for 33 years, and this fund is a crucial part of its plan to give back to those in the swimming community who are struggling to make ends meet at this time.”
To be eligible to apply for a grant, applicants must be Britain based and “should either be a registered or affiliated club or swim school with a National Governing Body or a small, local swimming organisation that may not be a traditional swim club/school but is working on local level to provide swimming or aquatic activity in their communities. Applicants are welcomed from all over England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”
Duncan Goodhew and the Swimathon Foundation aim to come through COVID-19 lockdown in better shape come the return to the water – Photo Courtesy: The Swimathon Foundation
Duncan Goodhew and the Swimathon Foundation aim to come through COVID-19 lockdown in better shape come the return to the water – Photo Courtesy: The Swimathon Foundation
For more information about The Swimathon Foundation and to apply for the COVID-19 Relief Fund grant, visit www.swimathonfoundation.
About Swimathon
Since its launch as an annual event Swimathon has seen over 700,000 participants at over 1,200 different pools across the UK swimming for the challenge and raising money for charity. Swimathon attracts swimmers of all levels from experienced Swimathon participants to complete novices and this is reflected in the different challenges available to those taking part.
- Swimathon is the world’s biggest fundraising swim, and is now scheduled to take place from the 16th – 18th October 2020
- The event will incorporate the individual 400m, 1.5k, 2.5k, 5k, Triple 5k and team 5k and 1.5k challenges
- Swimathon started in 1986 and since then has raised over £50 million for charity
- 2020 marks the 33rd edition of Swimathon
- Swimathon has raised funds for a variety of nominated charities, including Comic Relief, Macmillan Cancer Support, NSPCC, The British Heart Foundation, The Prince’s Trust and, most recently, Cancer Research UK & Marie Curie.