GLL pools to host over 1000 fundraising challenges during Swimathon 2025
The UK's foremost leisure charitable social enterprise GLL will host 1054 fundraising challenges in 68 of its managed pools for Swimathon 2025.
The world's biggest fundraising swim happening over the weekend of 28-30 March sees fundraisers' proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation.
Participants can choose to swim 400m or Triple 5k and they can swim as individuals or part of a team.
GLL has been supporting Swimathon over the years in its 'Better' branded pools.
Customers preparing for Swimathon 2025, were invited to a special training tips webinar hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist swimming legend Duncan Goodhew - with inspiring words boosting the number of take-ups even further.
GLL is the largest provider of public swimming pools in the UK (140 pools and 9 lidos) including the iconic Manchester Aquatic Centre, West Reservoir and London Fields Lido - and the biggest provider of swimming lessons - teaching 200,000 people a week, including adult swimmers.
GLL's Head of Sport and Aquatics Andrew Clark said:
"The best of luck to our fundraisers - with over 1000 taking part, Swimathon 2025 promises to be one of the biggest challenges of its kind we've hosted.
"Not only are Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation going to get a boost out of this - it's also offering many the chance to start a lifetime fitness habit."
Swimmers young and old have been flocking to GLL's 'Better' pools to train for their individual and team challenges.
Among them are mother-and-son fundraisers from Peckham, Anna Garcia and Leo Garnett (8) who have been training at Charlton Lido in Greenwich. Anna comments:
"Leo's been swimming since he was 3 months old.
"We used to live in Gibraltar and everyone had a pool, I was so scared of him not knowing how to swim. He swims in the school squad and also trains with Dulwich Dolphins."
"I swim to challenge myself firstly but realised I could also raise money for Cancer Research - the disease has affected family friends.
"We are stepping up and will both do 5km this year - Swimathon believe Leo is the youngest swimmer attempting this distance."
Among GLL's pools that are hosting the largest number of fundraising swims are:
London Fields Lido - 118
Charlton Lido - 122
Britannia Leisure Centre - 50
Manchester Aquatic Centre - 40