Congleton is set to see the return of the annual Rotary Swimathon in March 2024.

Congleton Rotary has put out a call for team leaders to prepare their team entries for the 2024 Swimathon.

The recently reopened Congleton Leisure Centre will host the popular Rotary Swimathon event on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March 2024.

The Rotary Club says that "this is a special occasion, marking the return of Swimathon to Congleton and the first in the new pool. The event is an important fundraiser for local charities."

While the Congleton Leisure Centre was being rebuilt, the Swimathon event moved to Biddulph. While the facilities at Biddulph Leisure Centre were superb, the distance from Congleton meant that it was more difficult for several of the 'regular' Congleton teams to travel. For 2024, the event is back in Congleton.

Organisers, Rotarians Sandra Conway and Rachel Brown say that team leaders need to be prepared for the move back to Congleton: "It's not too soon to start thinking about building a team and entering. Booking and sponsorship forms are available now on the dedicated Swimathon website. Booking early means that teams get first choice of their preferred day and time."

The Swimathon is a unique event that benefits all who take part, and not only encourages fitness and good heath, but and raises money for local charities.

Entry is free. Teams of from two to eight swimmers get one lane of the baths for just short of an hour and swim as far as they can in a relay. Every swimmer gets a medal and the team is photographed for publicity.

The Swimathon is not a competition and swimmers enter to raise money for charity. They get to choose where 50% of the sponsorship money that they raise is spent. The remaining 50% is retained by Rotary-Congleton and every penny is divided between two local charities and good causes of the club's choice.

For 2024, the beneficiaries will be The Old Saw Mill and Listening Out Loud.

Listening Out Loud has recently opened a cafe and charity shop in Congleton. The aims of the Foundation are to assist ex-servicemen and women and support their wellbeing. The charity, based in Congleton, was set up in 2012 to support veterans affected by homelessness and mental health issues.

The Old Saw Mill works to enhance the lives of people who are socially isolated, lonely and in need of additional support. It provides a meeting place for groups of people with challenging problems and seeks to give stimulation by crafting, singing or simply having fun.

Apart from the years that the Leisure Centre was out of action, the Swimathon has taken place in Congleton, every year for over 20 years.

The Swimathon website provides all the detailed information that team leaders and swimmers need including registration, booking and sponsorship forms.

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