TEAM GB swimming heroes Mark Foster and Duncan Goodhew are encouraging people in Tavistock to sign up to Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim, to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

Taking place from Friday, March 29 to Sunday, March 31, swimmers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to sign up to take part in the world’s biggest annual swimming fundraising event in Tavistock pools, Meadowlands Leisure Centre and the Mount Kelly Swim Centre.

Last year, Swimathon raised £2.1million, and is aiming to raise further vital funds this time around.

Foster, the former World, European and Commonwealth champion, who set eight world records during a glittering career, is supporting the campaign, alongside Olympic gold medalist Duncan Goodhew, president of Swimathon.

He said: ‘I’m very proud to be supporting Swimathon 2019 and I hope everyone looking to set themselves a challenge signs up. Whether you’re just learning or are an experienced swimmer already, there’s a challenge for you.

‘Swimming is fantastic for your health and wellbeing as it helps to keep fit. As you train, you build stamina and speed, and as it’s a low impact sport, the chances of injury are low while also good for recovery if you’re coming back from injury.’

Duncan Goodhew added: ‘Swimathon gives everyone a chance to get active with friends and family, whilst doing some good at the same time.’

Designed so that people of all swimming abilities can participate, there are a variety of distances available as individual challenges – 400m, 1.5k, 2.5k, 5k – while the 1.5k and 5k distances are also available as team challenges for family, friends or colleagues to take on.

New to 2019 is the Triple 5k challenge, which is specifically designed to test experienced swimmers, challenging them to swim 5k, three times. Swimmers can choose the sessions and venues where they take on the three-part challenge.

For more information and to sign up now, visit www.Swimathon.org