Better pools host a record 1362 Swimathon challenges raising £141k for charities
Figures in this week confirm 'Better' pools hosted 1,362 fundraising challenges in 87 of its pools for Swimathon 2026 - smashing the tally of 1,054 set in 2025 - and raising a record £141k for charities.
This year, the world’s biggest fundraising swim - which began 40 years ago - happened over the weekend of 20-22 March, with fundraisers’ proceeds benefitting the world’s largest charitable funder of cancer research, Cancer Research UK, and the UK’s leading end of life charity, Marie Curie, as well as Swimathon Foundation.
Individuals swam a variety of distances - 500m, 1.5k, 2.5k, Swimathon 5k and Triple 5k distances - with teams choosing 1.5k, 2.5k and 5k challenges.
'Better' branded pools are operated by charitable social enterprise GLL which has been supporting Swimathon over many years. Last year saw 1,054 challenges completed in 68 pools raising £109k for charity.
Swimathon Foundation confirmed £141,639 was raised in 'Better' pools in 2026.
GLL is the largest provider of public swimming in the UK (140 pools, 9 lidos and one reservoir) including the iconic Manchester Aquatic Centre, West Reservoir and London Fields Lido – and the biggest provider of swimming lessons – teaching 200,000 people a week, including adult swimmers.
Among them is Hough End Pool user, Susanna Amato, 35. She said:
“Considering a year ago I could not swim, I'm hugely proud of completing my own Swimathon.
"Supporting people living with cancer is incredibly important and I've been really impressed by the strong backing shown by the UK's swimming community."
Swimathon also supports end of life charity Marie Curie and the Swimathon Foundation.
GLL’s Head of Sport and Aquatics Andrew Clark said: “Congratulations to all our charity fundraisers in Swimathon's 40th year. With 1362 taking part, Swimathon 2026 is the biggest challenge of its kind we’ve hosted in our 'Better' pools.
"The world’s largest charitable funder of cancer research - Cancer Research UK - and the UK’s leading end of life charity - Marie Curie - as well as Swimathon Foundation directly benefit from our fundraisers' efforts.
"Swimathon brought people back to the pool in their droves to rediscover their love of swimming."
Among 'Better' pools that hosted large numbers of fundraising swims were:
London Fields Lido (Hackney) – 97 swims, £11,914.56
Charlton Lido (Greenwich) - 88 swims, £4898.50
Yearsley Swimming Pool (York) - 66 swims, £2,762.50
Parkside Pools (Cambridge) - 65 swims, £4,671.49
East Manchester Leisure Centre – 28 swims, £2,591.61
Swimathon President Duncan Goodhew is celebrating 50 years since becoming an Olympian. He visited the 'Better' London Fields Lido on Saturday 21 March to cheer on challenge fundraisers.
He commented: "Thanks to 'Better' pools and all our pool operator hosts for supporting their community swimmers young and old to raise much-needed funds for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie during Swimathon 2026.
"In our 40th anniversary year, Swimathon more than ever exemplifies the collective positive energy of the UK's swimming community and the benefits swimming brings."