HEREFORD LEISURE POOL JOINS THE STARS

IN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SWIM

Swimmers in Hereford will make a splash for charity in April as they complete the Swimathon 2010 challenge at Hereford Leisure Pool helping to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation. Hereford Leisure Pool is one of over 500 pools taking part nationwide in Swimathon 2010 along with Leominster Leisure Centre, Ledbury Swimming Pool and Ross on Wye Swimming Pool.

Zöe Salmon and Duncan Goodhew were the first of 15,000 people to dive in the pool for Swimathon 2010 at the national launch. This year, Swimathon is looking to exceed the £1.5m it raised for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation in 2009 - by encouraging everyone in the UK to get in the pool for the world's biggest swim.

Richard Scott says: "It's going to be fantastic to see everybody in our community taking part and fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care to enable terminally ill patients to have the best possible end of life care."

Zöe comments: "I've always found swimming a really good way to keep in shape. Everyone needs a challenge now and again, especially to keep motivated during the cold winter months. And what better additional spur than to help out Marie Curie Cancer Care - a charity that does such crucial work right around the UK? I can't wait to take part."

Duncan comments: "Swimathon is incredibly exciting. It enables normal people to do extraordinary things. Everyone's challenge is very much their own - but not only do their efforts benefit themselves, they benefit their country and the charities."

Swimathon 2010 has a challenge to suit everyone with swimmers challenging themselves to complete up to 5K as an individual or as a team with their friends and family. To find out more about Swimathon or to sponsor a swimmer go to: www.swimathon.org

Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of the UK's largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it expects to provide care to around 29,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year and is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

To get help from the Marie Curie Nursing Service, talk to your GP, district nurse or discharge nurse. For more information about Marie Curie Cancer Care, please visit http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/