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Sea swimmer Alice Cartwright is urging others to join her in taking the plunge and registering for Swimathon 2023.

The 27-year-old nurse, whose grandfather Alan Richardson is battling cancer, has signed up for the 5km event in May to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

Alice, who works as an OR at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, will run the MySwimathon version of the challenge in her spare time to fit around her work shifts.

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The Lingdale woman said: “I have quite a family history with Cancer Research UK. My grandfather has had three types of cancer now, so it’s always something I look out for, if there are any fundraisers, to give a bit of back for all they have done for us”.

The Swimathon takes place May 12-14 at pools and venues across Middlesbrough, East Cleveland and the UK, including: Neptune Centre, on Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough; the Rainbow Leisure Center in Coulby Newham; Redcar Leisure Center; Guisborough Swimming and Fitness Center; Saltburn Leisure Center and Loftus Leisure Centre.

With a variety of distances available, from 400m to 30.9km, the sponsored event offers a challenge for swimmers young and old, new and experienced. People can participate individually or as part of a team. Any swimmer, like Alice, who is unable to attend one of the organized sessions can sign up for MySwimathon, which will take place from April 28 to May 21, and choose the time and place that works best for them.

Alice’s grandfather, Alan, 84, who lives in Skelton, was a major factor in her motivation to sign up after seeing a Swimathon poster at her local leisure centre. Right now, the retiree is battling slow-growing kidney cancer.

Last year, Alice signed up for a sea bath and sauna event with friends and was quickly hooked. She is now a keen outdoor swimmer in the North Sea off Saltburn and at the nearby Scaling Dam.

She can now swim 1,500 meters in the sea and has ambitions to swim the Channel before she turns 30 and said the Swimathon challenge is a good goal to help her training.

Alice hopes to inspire others to get involved. She said: “Grandad’s experience means I understand very clearly why events like the Swimathon are so crucial in helping to fund the work of charities like Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie, who depend on our support.

“Swimathon is such a fun and simple way to encourage people to dip their toes in the water and swim. It really doesn’t matter if you’re not the fittest or fastest. I hope swimmers of all ages and skills take your caps and costumes to help thousands of families across the UK.”

Swimathon has raised over £55 million for charity since it began in 1986. With rising energy costs putting some community pools at risk of closure, the event not only supports vital causes, £2.50 of the entry fee from everyone who participates in an official Swimathon venue is donated to help protect these pools for the future.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North East, Michaela Robinson-Tate, said: “With Swimathon there is a distance to suit everyone. Taking part also offers many great benefits, including the chance to enjoy the water while supporting people like Alice and her grandfather.”

Marie Curie’s director of community fundraising, Jayne Waterhouse, said: “The money Marie Curie receives through the Swimathon fundraiser goes to help our nurses, grief counselors and support line staff to provide vital care and support to terminally ill people and their families around the world.” UNITED KINGDOM.”

To register for Swimathon 2023, visit swimathon.org.

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