Win a training session with Duncan Goodhew at Wales National Pool
On Thursday 12th February, the pool will be hosting an evening with the Olympic Gold Medallist and Swimathon president. The first five people to enter the Swimathon that evening will win the opportunity to be part of a group training session with Duncan.
(Media-Newswire.com) - National swimming hero Duncan Goodhew MBE will be paying a visit to the Wales National Pool in Swansea to drum up support for the world's biggest fund raising swim, Swimathon 2009.
On Thursday 12th February, the pool will be hosting an evening with the Olympic Gold Medallist and Swimathon president. The first five people to enter the Swimathon that evening will win the opportunity to be part of a group training session with Duncan.
The evening kicks off at 5.30pm, and hopefuls should bring their kit as the private training session with Duncan will take place from 7pm, with one lane being closed.
Swimathon 2009 participants at the Wales National Pool will be helping the lives of thousands of terminally ill people by raising cash for the Marie Curie Cancer Care. The event takes place in over 500 pools nationwide between 16-19 April.
General Manager at the Wales National Pool, Jane Draper said "Even if you don't get to be part of the group training session, attendees on the night will also get the opportunity to meet Duncan Goodhew, take pictures with the Olympic gold medallist, get expert training tips and also get signed goodies."
Over the past two years, 30,000 swimmers have taken part in Swimathon and have raised more than £3 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation.
Last year Swansea Swimathon participants raised more than £8000 as 66 people swum a grand total of 146 kilometres in the event.
Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon President, said, 'Swimathon is a great way of raising money to help thousands of people across the UK. It's also a fantastic way to get and keep fit for all the family.
"Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness and it can serve as a cross-training element to your regular workout. 30 minutes of steady paced lane swimming burns over 200 calories – well over 400 calories in an hour. So not only will Swimathon help other people but it will also help keep you fit too.'
Now in its 23rd year, over half a million swimmers have taken part in Swimathon; swimming the equivalent of over 24 times round the world and raising over £30 million for charity.
Swimmers can challenge themselves to the ultimate 5K challenge, 2.5K for the intermediate swimmer or 1.5K for those who swim occasionally. For those interested in joining forces with friends, colleagues or family, the 5K challenge can also be completed as part of a team of up to five people.
Notes:
The first five people to enter one of the Swimathon 2009 challenges in full or attendees on the night who have already entered Swimathon in full. Winners will need to remember to bring their swimming kit in order to be part of the training session.
To find out more about Swimathon or sign-up for the 2009 challenge go to: www.swimathon.org
For more information, please contact Coard Henry at Limelight Sports 020 7299 4160 or email coard.henry@limelightsports.com
Swimathon 1. Swimathon will run between the 16-19 April 2009 and registration opens on 12 January 2009. Entry fee is £9 for individuals and £15 for a team with concessionary half price available for unemployed, under 16's, registered disabled and senior citizens. 2. 70% of funds raised by participants in the 2009 national Swimathon will be used by Marie Curie Cancer Care – see ( www.mariecurie.org.uk ). The remaining 30% will be used by The Swimathon Foundation – see ( www.swimathonfoundation.org ) o Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of the UK's largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it expects to provide care to around 27,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year and is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS. It costs £20 to provide a Marie Curie Nurse in a patient's home for one hour. ch. 3. The Swimathon Foundation, a company limited by guarantee, is the independent registered charity which owns the annual national Swimathon event. 4. o The Swimathon Foundation through its trading subsidiary arranges the staging and promotion of the Swimathon event in a nationwide network of participating swimming pools, to encourage members of the public, whatever their age or ability, to understand and realise the benefits of regular swimming as a means to improve health and wellbeing and to achieve personal fitness goals. o The Swimathon Foundation selects a National Charity Partner to promote itself and its charitable activities in association with the Swimathon and to receive Funds from members of the public, including those participating in the Swimathon, in support of its activities. For the 2009 Swimathon the selected Charity is Marie Curie Cancer Care. o In addition, The Swimathon Foundation aims to support local communities in their efforts to promote the benefits of physical activity, particularly through swimming. o For further information visit The Swimathon Foundations website at: www.swimathonfoundation.org
Eleanor Simmonds MBE 1. Eleanor Simmonds is supporting Swimathon 2009. 2. Eleanor Simmonds MBE is a British Paralympian swimmer who has achondroplasia. She swims in the S6 disability category. 3. Eleanor was the youngest British competitor at Beijing 2008 at 13 years nine months and 26 days. She won Paralympic gold medals in the 100m freestyle and in the 400 metre freestyle with a world record of 5 minutes 41.34 seconds. These achievements in Beijing also make her the youngest British person to have won a gold medal at an Olympic or Paralympic Games. 4. Eleanor won the 2008 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award and was awarded an MBE for Services to Disabled sport in the New Year Honours 2009. At 14 she is the youngest person to have ever been honoured. 5. Eleanor is aiming to qualify and compete at London 2012.
Duncan Goodhew MBE 1. Duncan Goodhew is the President of Swimathon and is one of the most instantly recognisable UK swimming athletes. 2. In 1978 Duncan won three Silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. His swimming achievements culminated in the most significant - gold in the 100 metre breaststroke in the 1980 Moscow Olympics alongside a bronze in the 4 x 100m medley. Duncan is now an author and motivational speaker. 3. Duncan was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 1981.
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