Team Eastern Smash 2026 Swimathon, Raising Over £500 for Charity

Team Eastern Make a Splash at 2026 Swimathon, Raising Over £500 for Charity
On Friday 20th March, Team Eastern made an outstanding contribution to this year’s 2026 Swimathon, taking on challenging distances while raising money and awareness for Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK. With Swimathon celebrating its 40th Anniversary (1986–2026), the team marked the occasion with determination, teamwork, and some impressive athletic performances.

Duty Managers Jason and Kieran, alongside Recreational Assistants Ragan and Stella and Lead Swim Teacher Melissa, teamed up to complete the Team 5km challenge. Each member swam 1km (40 lengths), collectively finishing the distance in an impressive 27 minutes.

In light-hearted post-swim debate, Jason proudly claimed he worked harder than the rest of the team after his smartwatch reported 10 additional lengths. Despite his relentless effort to chase down his teammates, his watch even showed him two lengths ahead when the others completed their swims. The mystery was soon solved when it became clear that his smartwatch had been tracking 20m lengths in a 25m pool, leaving Jason not ahead at all but actually 10 lengths behind. In true Team Eastern spirit, his teammates rallied together on poolside, cheering him through every final lap and motivating him to finish his remaining lengths with determination and a smile.

One of the standout achievements of the day came from Eastern Recreational Assistant Leigh‑anna, who completed an extraordinary individual 5km swim in 2 hours and 8 minutes. Throughout the challenge, she showcased exceptional stamina and technical skill-tumble‑turning, butterfly kicking, and pacing her way through 200 lengths with unwavering determination.

So far, Team Eastern have raised an amazing £501, contributing to life‑changing support for those affected by cancer and terminal illness. Those who wish to support the cause can still donate via the link below:

Swimathon JustGiving Donations 

A massive thank you to all our Eastern members for their incredible support on the day and for their generous donations. Your encouragement played a huge part in making this year’s Swimathon such a success.

Team Eastern should be incredibly proud of their achievements - both in the pool and in supporting vital national charities. A huge well done to everyone involved!