Swim the channel, or double, at your local pool to support diabetes research

A new fundraiser is taking a unique twist on the epic channel swim to support diabetes research.

For the second year, ‘Better’ leisure centres across South London will raise money for the health charity Diabetes UK, with its challenge ‘Swim22’.

Swim22 invites participants to swim the length of the English Channel – 22 miles – in their local pool, or the open water over a period of 12 weeks. 

Participants can dive into Swim22 between March 22, and June 22, and take on the challenge at their own pace.

Better leisure centres – operated by charitable social enterprise GLL – will promote the challenge to its 800,000 members, offering participants a free four-month Better Flex membership, free training events and advice.

Participating Better leisure centres include Croydon, Greenwich, Lewisham, Merton, Kensington and Chelsea and Sutton.

There are two other challenges to choose from. Participants can do ‘The Half’, an impressive 11 miles that will see them swim half the distance to France. 

Or more experienced swimmers may wish to take on ‘The Double’, by swimming 44 miles – the equivalent of swimming to France and back again.

The challenge is designed to encourage people to use exercise to boost their mental and physical health, while also raising funds for Diabetes UK’s vital research.

In February, new data from Diabetes UK showed there are 4.6million people in the UK with a diagnosis of diabetes, up from 4.4million last year, which is an all-time high.

An estimated 6.3million people are living with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, known as prediabetes, and a further 1.3million with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

This means one in five adults in the UK either have diabetes or prediabetes.

Without the right care and support, people with all types of diabetes can be at risk of developing serious complications like amputations, strokes and heart attacks.

Hannah Gilmour, GLL partnership manager for Lewisham said: “Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic conditions in the world. 

“Not only do we support the important research work that Diabetes UK undertakes, but we also want to encourage those living in our local communities to use our facilities to help improve their health and wellbeing.”

To register for Swim22, visit swim22.diabetes.org.uk. 

There is no registration fee and no minimum sponsorship. To sign up for a free Better Flex membership visit: https://www.better.org.uk/lp/swim22

(Picture: GLL)