Swansea’s biggest pool will be playing host to scores of enthusiastic fundraisers this spring in probably the biggest community swimming event of the Olympic year this spring.
But for at least one swimmer at the Wales National Pool Swansea (WNPS) the Swimathon Weekend from April 27 to 29 will be a labour of thanks.
Andrew Morris is a regular user of the WNPS and the pool has become a home from home for him ever since he started going there as part of his recovery from a serious surfing accident 13 years ago.
He said: “The Wales National Pool has made a huge difference to me. After the accident I was in hospital for four months and doctors told me I’d never walk again.”
But Andrew has defied all expectations and is now an enthusiastic swimmer, swimming up to 40 lengths at a time.
And he’ll be among those participating in Swimathon’s 25th anniversary event, which sees British Swimming, British Gas and the BBC’s Big Splash, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief joining forces to hold the world’s biggest fundraising swim.
He said: “The Wales National Pool has been a real lifeline to me. I’m in a group of regulars who turn up at about the same time of day, so it’s become something of a social occasion.
“We know it’s a special pool because you see the elite swimmers hoping to make the Olympics/Paralympics in training, but the Wales National Pool is a community venue as well. I’m not able to do other forms of exercise like road running or the gym, so without this facility I would be chronically unfit.”
Andrew said he’s participated in Swimathon before as a way of putting a little bit back into swimming after having gained so much.
Also among the cheerleaders for the Swimathon Weekend in April is Swansea-based Paralympian, Ellie Simmonds, who won double gold at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.
Seventeen-year-old Ellie said: “I’ve always been a fan of the Swimathon and this year’s 25th anniversary couldn’t have come at a better time because interest in the sport will be reaching fever-pitch ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics in London this summer.”
Jeremy Cole, Interim General Manager at the WNPS, said: “The Swimathon Weekend will be a very busy weekend for us. There is a lot of excitement being generated and we’re hoping that more people will sign-up for the event now to raise as much money as possible for the good causes.
“Wales National Pool Swansea are putting a number of teams in for the event and we would encourage local companies as well as individuals to join us.”
Participants can swim the Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief or the 2.5k and 5k distance challenges for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
To find out more go to the Big Splash website – http://www.swimming.org/bigsplash or ‘Big Splash’ on Facebook or follow @bigsplashers on Twitter.
Or The Swimathon website –
http://www.swimathon.org SwimathonChallenge on Facebook or follow @swimathon on twitter
