High Peak's in the swim for charity!

HIGH Peak swimmers made a splash for cash when they helped raise a staggering £2.3m for charity.

Owned by the Borough Council, the Buxton, Glossop and New Mills pools were among 57 venues run by DC Leisure that participated in Swimathon 2012 in April. Nearly 2,000 swimmers rose to the challenge in the company’s pools, raising £175,431 between them.

Each year, Swimathon supports a nominated charity. Proceeds from this year’s event will be shared by the Swimathon Foundation, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief.

Previous recipients have included Macmillan Cancer Support, the NSPCC, the British Heart Foundation and the Prince’s Trust.

The Swimathon Foundation offers grants to organisations and individuals who promote swimming in their community, recognising that regular exercise improves health and wellbeing.

Anthony McKeown, executive councillor for community services, said: “I’m delighted that High Peak swimmers turned out in force once again to support these worthy causes while keeping fit and having fun with family and friends”.

Olympic gold medallist and Swimathon president Duncan Goodhew added: “Swimathon provides motivation and a personal challenge to swimmers nationwide. It also offers a goal to train for, a target to achieve and a great cause to support”.

The world’s biggest fundraising swimming event, Swimathon started in 1986. Since then, more than half a million swimmers have raised over £36m for charity.

High Peak will be in the swim again next year when all three pools participate in Swimathon 2013 from Friday, April 26 to the following Sunday. Marie Curie Cancer Care will be among the beneficiaries once more.