World's biggest swimathon heading to Capital

Aiming to generate finds for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation, more than 16,000 swimmers are set to take part across the UK, raising more than 1.5m. Funds will go towards helping Marie Curie to provide free nursing care to cancer patients and other terminal ill people, in their own homes.

Now in its 24th year, over half a million swimmers have taken part in Swimathon – swimming the equivalent of over 24 times round the world and raising over 30 million for charity.

Swimathon President Duncan Goodhew said: "Gracemount Leisure Centre deserves an enormous amount of credit for so successfully engaging 32 local swimmers in what is a considerable challenge.

"Many of these people have committed to swim 5km - or 200 lengths of a 25m pool. What they'll achieve personally and for the charities is also worth celebrating."

Local swimmers can still dive into Swimathon at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, Drumbrae Leisure Centre and Portobello Swim Centre between 16-18 April 2010.

To find out more go to www.swimathon.org