Better Pools to 'Make a Splash' this spring - hosting over 1,200 fundraising challenges during Swimathon 2026
'Better' pools will host over 1,200 fundraising challenges in 87 locations for Swimathon 2026 - in what is expected to be the largest ever national swim challenge hosted by the swimming provider.
The world’s biggest fundraising swim - which began 40 years ago - happens over the weekend of 20-22 March and sees fundraisers’ proceeds going to Cancer Research UK, end of life charity Marie Curie and Swimathon Foundation.
Individuals can choose to swim 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' is the trading brand of charitable social enterprise leisure provider GLL - which has been supporting Swimathon over the years in its swimming pools and lidos. Last year saw 1,054 challenges completed in 68 pools raising £109k for charity.
GLL is the largest provider of public swimming in the UK (140 pools and 9 lidos) 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 (Manchester) swimmer Susanna Amato, 35. She said:
“Swimathon offers a brilliant conduit to raise awareness of humanity’s fragility and strength.
"I know people living with cancer and the Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK support is indescribable.
"I’m proud to be part of GLL's biggest Swimathon to date to support these two important charities - and the Swimathon Foundation."
"See you down the deep end!"
Susanna - an actress from Whalley Range - only learned to swim last year and completed a "ridiculous 30 km in 30 days swim challenge" to raise money for her touring theatre project Landfill of Memories.
GLL’s Head of Sport and Aquatics Andrew Clark said:
“The best of luck to Susanna and all our charity fundraisers in Swimathon's 40th year. With over 1200 taking part, Swimathon 2026 could be the biggest challenge of its kind we’ve hosted in '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 will directly benefit from our fundraisers' efforts. It promises to bring many people back to the pool and rediscover their love of swimming."
Among 'Better' pools that are hosting the largest number of fundraising swims are:
· London Fields Lido (Hackney) – 97 swims
· Charlton Lido (Greenwich) - 68 swims
· Yearsley Swimming Pool (York) - 66 swim
· Parkside Pools (Cambridge) - 54 swims
· East Manchester Leisure Centre – 30 swims
Swimathon President Duncan Goodhew is celebrating 50 years since becoming an Olympian. He will visit GLL's London Fields Lido on Saturday 21 March to cheer on challenge fundraisers.
He commented: "Thanks to GLL and all our pool operator hosts for supporting their community swimmers young and old for Swimathon 2026.
"In our 40th anniversary year, Swimathon promises to be bigger and better than ever and really exemplify the collective positive energy of the UK's swimming community and the benefits swimming brings."
Swimathon entries close 17 March.
Swimathon Foundation is a registered charity working with charitable, facility, national operators and governing body partners to promote the health, wellbeing and life skills that swimming can provide. It also owns the Marathon Swims and other Swimathon campaigns which offers the public the opportunity to swim and fundraise for charity.
For more information on registration, entry fees, rules, age limits, medals, certificates and more, please visit www.swimathon.org/about/faqs