People are being invited to sign up for a charity challenge being organised as part of Gedling Borough Council’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Residents can take part in a 50-mile continuous swim relay at Calverton Leisure Centre on Wednesday, July 24, starting at 7am.
The ‘Swim 4 Fifty’ challenge, organised by the Gedling Leisure team in Calverton, aims to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK, which is this year’s chosen charity by the Mayor of Gedling, Ron McCrossen.
The challenge will take place in Calverton Leisure Centre’s 18-metre pool, where 50 miles equates to swimming 4,471 lengths.
Residents of Gedling Borough aged 14 and over are invited to join in by booking a 20-minute timeslot during the public relay sessions between 7am and 9pm.
Participants must be able to swim confidently for 20 minutes without stopping. They can also choose to swim the relay in pairs if they don’t feel comfortable swimming for the full 20 minutes.
Special relay sessions will be held between 4pm and 6pm for learners on stage 3 and above in Gedling Leisure’s Swim Stars swimming lessons. These young swimmers will have the opportunity to contribute by completing a reduced number of lengths
Gedling Borough Council staff members, along with their friends and family, will continue the swim relay overnight and into the following day until the 50th mile is achieved. The challenge is expected to take between 24 and 30 hours of continuous swimming.
There is no entry fee, but a recommended donation of £5 to Parkinson’s UK is encouraged for participants. Donations can be made using the collection boxes in Calverton Leisure Centre’s reception area or by donating online using the ‘Swim 4 Fifty’ JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/calvertonleisurecentre-swim4fifty.
Mayor of Gedling, Ron McCrossen, said: “This swim challenge is a fantastic way to celebrate the council’s huge milestone while also supporting Parkinson’s UK, an incredible charity that provides essential support and research for those affected by Parkinson’s disease”.
Councillor Henry Wheeler, portfolio holder for lifestyles, health and wellbeing said: “I encourage everyone who can participate in the challenge to do so. This is a wonderful opportunity for local communities to come together and take part in physical activity, which has many health benefits, all while raising funds for a worthy cause”.
Each 20-minute swimming timeslot must be booked in advance by calling Calverton Leisure Centre on 0115 901 3800 or by visiting the leisure centre in person on Flatts Lane in Calverton. Regular timetabled swimming sessions will still be available during the challenge, though some may have limited spaces.
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