by Chris Price

A dip in the pool can go a long way towards getting fit, but it
can also go a long way towards helping others.

The world’s biggest swimming-related fundraising event,
Swimathon 2011, will take place at pools across Kent from Friday,
April 8, to Sunday, April 10.

The event, now in its 24th year, will attract 20,000 swimmers
who will raise more than £2 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and
the Swimathon Foundation.

Last year 860 people in Kent dived in to support the charity and
organisers are hoping to top that in 2011.

Most of the money will provide free nursing care to cancer
patients and people with other terminal illnesses.

The charity will provide care to about 29,000 terminally ill
patients this year in its hospices and in the community. It is the
largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon president Duncan Goodhew
said: “What’s really exciting is that around 2,500 of those who
dived in for the Swimathon last year told us they only started
swimming again when they entered Swimathon.

“From these grass roots right up to our overflowing
international trophy cabinet, it seems that Britain’s love affair
with swimming really is back to stay.”

Entry for swimmers is open until Thursday, April 7. To register, call 0845 367 0036 or visitwww.swimathon.org.

Where to join in:

Crook Log Leisure Centre, Bexleyheath

Cygnet Leisure Centre, Gravesend

Downham Health & Leisure Centre, Bromley

Edenbridge Leisure Centre

Erith Leisure Centre

Fairfield Pool and Leisure Centre, Dartford

Hundred Of Hoo Pool, Rochester

Hythe Swimming Pool

Larkfield Leisure Centre, near Aylesford

Maidstone Leisure Centre

Sheerness Pool

Sidcup Leisure Centre

Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne

Tenterden Leisure Centre

The Stour Centre, Ashford

Tonbridge Swimming Pool,

Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre

Walnuts Leisure Centre, Orpington

Weald Sports Centre, Cranbrook

West Wickham Leisure Centre, near Bromley

White Oak Leisure Centre, Swanley

Whitstable Swimming Pool