'Buzzing' atmosphere as 39th Swimarathon in Maidenhead raises five figures

An annual Maidenhead swimming fundraiser returned over the weekend – raising tens of thousands of pounds for charities.

Now in its 39th year, the Lions Club of Maidenhead hosts the Swimarathon at Braywick Leisure Centre every January for teams to complete relays in a pool over 12 hours.

Participants in the long-running event are from schools, churches and local authorities, and the donations and gift aid are shared 50:50 between each team’s chosen charity and the Maidenhead Lions Club to donate to the community throughout the year.

Club secretary, Brenda Butler said the current fundraising total is £26,000 and it is ‘climbing up quite fast’.

"I’m hoping we get £39,000 for the 39th Swimarathon – that would be really nice,” she added.

"The whole day - it was just buzzing, and everybody was on a high. They come in smiling, they swim, they have fun and they go out smiling. You can’t ask for better really.

"It's one of those events that has entered the town's calendar - all sorts of groups use the Swimarathon as their big fundraiser of the year.

"People sponsor what they can afford which might be £1, it might be £5. That sum is not because two or three people give a few thousand pounds - it's because the whole community gives a little which is lovely."

Maidenhead MP Theresa May and the Royal Borough mayor Neil Knowles visited the swimmers on Sunday (January 14) which saw 113 teams take part.

To donate to the Swimarathon 2023 via its Just Giving page, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/swim2024  

Flick through the gallery to view photographer, Ian Longthorne's pictures from the Swimarathon.