Entries are now open for the world’s largest swimming fundraiser, Butlins Swimathon 2005!

More than 30,000 swimmers of all ages and abilities will dive into 500 pools across the UK between 19-27 March 2005 for Butlins Swimathon and to raise money for NCH the children’s charity.

Butlins Swimathon 2005 aims to raise £2 million, with 70 per cent of all money raised going directly to NCH - the children’s charity. This money will fund NCH’s 500 centres located throughout the UK, helping them to continue their support of local communities. NCH’s services respond to the needs of local communities, the charity provides diverse support for children and young people from family centres to sexual abuse treatment centres and support for disabled children and their families. The Swimathon Foundation will distribute the remaining 30 per cent to smaller, local charities.

NCH’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Simon Burne said: “NCH is extremely excited to be a part of Butlins Swimathon 2005. The event is a positive way to help NCH support some of the most vulnerable and excluded children in our society. We work with more than 140,000 children, young people and their families every year and, with 500 projects, we are at the heart of every community. Participation in Butlins Swimathon will make a huge difference to the lives of these children and families.”

Butlins Sponsorship Manager, Kate Harle said: “We are very proud to be sponsoring Swimathon for a third year running and are delighted to be supporting NCH, a charity we feel has values close to Butlins’ own. Like NCH, Butlins is about making children smile, so what better way to raise funds than with a fun swimming event for the whole family. Building on the success of previous years we will endeavour to make Butlins Swimathon 2005 our best year yet.”

Taking part means not only doing something great for charity but also getting fit and achieving a personal best. By registering, swimmers will receive access to a Personal Trainer developed by Speedo along with expert nutritional advice. The event is not just for swimming enthusiasts, but is open to swimmers of all ages and abilities, from those aged eight to 80 and has a challenge to suit everyone –from those who may have just graduated from doggy paddle to others who think nothing of 100 lengths before breakfast.

Created by Olympic legend Duncan Goodhew at a handful of London pools in 1986, Butlins Swimathon has developed into a UK-wide event.  In excess of half a million people of all ages and abilities have now made a splash for cash and the £1.7 million total raised in March 2004 means that the event has now boosted 32 different charities with over £21 million since its launch.

Duncan Goodhew said: “Over the past 19 years, Swimathon has provided people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to challenge themselves in a fun and positive way. This year, I hope we can take the event to new heights, and raise much needed funds for NCH and The Swimathon Foundation.

You can enter now!  Diving into the largest swimming fundraiser on the planet couldn’t be easier.  Register online at www.swimathon.org, or phone the Butlins Swimathon hotline on 0845 36 700 36 or pick up an entry form from your local participating pool.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About Butlins

Butlins, the UK’s leading holiday Resort destination, is sponsoring Swimathon for the third year in 2005 and is bringing its trademark fun to the event.  The famous Redcoats will be cheering on participants at selected Butlins Swimathon sessions up and down the UK and staff and customers at Butlins Resorts will be taking part in Swimathon activities leading up to the event week. For further information www.butlins.com/swimathon

The Charities:

NCH

NCH, the children’s charity is the UK’s largest children’s charity and works with some of the most vulnerable and excluded children and young people across the country. Through more than 500 projects NCH is the largest UK provider of services to disabled children and their families, children’s services in rural areas, family and community centres and services for young people leaving care.

There are many ways of supporting NCH: for example, through payroll giving, making a legacy in your will, getting involved in your community or donating online. Find out more by visiting www.nch.org.uk

The Swimathon Foundation

The Swimathon Foundation has been established to help Butlins Swimathon swimmers and pools become more directly involved with the way their sponsorship money is spent.  As an independent charitable trust, it provides grants of up to £5,000 to local charities that benefit the health and wellbeing of people in the UK. For more information go to www.swimathonfoundation.org

For further information please contact: Butlins Swimathon 2005 Press Office on 020 7299 4160