Association of Children’s Hospices Launch Charity Swimathon

Despite thousands of people having already signed up for this year’s inaugural ‘Butterfly Swimathon’, the Association of Children’s Hospices (ACH) is urging more people to demonstrate their support for children’s hospice services by donning their swimming costumes and heading to their local pools.

Parents and children of all ages and ability are expected to dive into their local swimming pools throughout September and take part in the swimathon which will raise money for children’s hospices throughout the UK. The event is being organised by the Association of Children’s Hospices – the national voice for children’s hospices – and is sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (“RBS”).

Alan Dickinson, chief executive of UK Corporate Banking at RBS, said: “The challenge to raise as much money as possible to support the work of children's hospices throughout the UK is constant. We want to encourage as many people as possible to ‘get in the swim’ and raise vitally-needed funds for children's hospices and through them, the children and families who rely on their support.”

While those taking part can swim as little or as far as they wish, organisers are hoping that people will decide to swim 39 metres, 39 widths, 39 lengths or even 39 miles to represent the 39 children’s hospices in the UK.

Despite the event’s name – which uses the theme of the butterfly to symbolise the beauty of life, no matter how short that life might be – swimming the butterfly is not obligatory. People taking part can participate in the event by swimming any stroke of their choosing – even doggy paddle.

Stephen Parry, who won his medal in the men’s 200m butterfly at the Athens Olympics, said: “The great thing about the Butterfly Swimathon it is that it is open to absolutely everyone – from people who are learning to swim to those who may have Olympic aspirations. It is all about people getting involved and raising much-needed funds for the children’s hospice movement.

“There is no feeling like being in the water, and this initiative offers people the opportunity to have a huge amount of fun while helping children and young people who are sadly expected to die before, or shortly after, they reach adulthood.”

The Butterfly Swimathon will coincide with ACH’s Children’s Hospice Week (CHW), which runs from 16-23 September. Both are intended to raise funds and awareness of children’s hospices and the services they provide to children who will not live to reach adulthood and their families.

Jane Tabor, Head of Fundraising for Hampshire-based Naomi House Children’s Hospice, said: “It costs Naomi House around £2.5 million a year to keep its service running, so it is vital that we look at ways of raising funds to ensure the high level of service is maintained.”

“The Butterfly Swimathon is a terrific opportunity for people to turn up, dive in and have fun while doing something that will go a long way to making a significant difference to the thousands of life-limited children in the UK.”

The swimathon is also being supported by high street supermarket Somerfield, which adopted ACH as its charity of the year for 2006. Staff at Somerfield – which will be supporting swimathon events nationwide – are raising money for ACH through its ‘Butterfly Campaign’, which aims to challenge common misconceptions about children’s hospices.  “The Butterfly Swimathon looks set to be lots of fun” said Pete Williams, Head of Press and PR at Somerfield. “Many staff have already been asking me for information on how they can get involved. We hope that people across the nation will keep the momentum of the campaign going by signing up for the swimathon.”

For a  Butterfly Swimathon promotional pack containing swimathon literature, fundraising ideas and information about events being organised by all participating children’s hospices, visit www.butterflyswim.co.uk or call 0845 634 2197. Swimathon packs can also be ordered by picking up a flyer in any Somerfield store.