10/05/12…Are you a swimmer? Join the Rotary Swimathon

THE Rotary Club of Thame is seeking participants for its first Rotary Swimathon, to raise money for the Air Ambulance and other local charities.

The Swimathon will take place at Thame Leisure Centre on Sunday, October 7, 2012, between 10am and 3pm, and is a fund-raiser for the Thame & District Day Centre, Chiltern and Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and other local charities.

Marius Ciortan, Chair of the Rotary Swimathon Steering Group, said: “The event is possible due to the generosity of several local businesses. ALR Systems, ASM Auto Recycling, Nexus, Park Street Dental Clinic, Racquets Fitness Centre and Vale Life Magazine will cover the cost of hiring the pool, whilst PSG Trophies will cover the cost of producing the medals.

?We are looking for teams of up to six swimmers. Each team is given a lane of the pool and will swim for 55 minutes ? with only one team member swimming at a time.

?On average this means that each swimmer does about 10-20 lengths during the 55 minutes, but there is no need for each team member to swim the same number of lengths.

?Teams will seek sponsorship for taking part in the Rotary Swimathon by raising a lump sum or based on the team?s total number of lengths swum – which can be up to 100 lengths or more.

?The benefits are for everyone, as local charities get money to help with their important work and the swimmers have lots of fun trying to swim as many lengths as they can. At the end all participants will get a Rotary Swimathon medal.?

Marius added: ?Everyone over the age of eight can take part: Families, Friends, Churches, Charities, Businesses, Public Sector Workers, Shops, Scouts & Guides, Cubs & Brownies, Swimming Clubs, Health Clubs, Schools, Colleges etc.?

The teams should apply now as the slots are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Team entry and sponsorship forms can be downloaded from: www.thame.rotaryweb.org or by ringing Rotarian Peter Hook on 07836 651174 or e-mail: peterghook@hotmail.com