SWIMMERS will be hoping to raise thousands of pounds for Marie Curie next month with an epic three-day challenge.

Meadway Leisure Centre and Central Swimming Pool will play host to the Swimathon, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, from Friday, April 7.

More than 600 venues across the country will be celebrating the landmark event with a series of 1.5, 2.5 and 5k swims, all in a bid to raise funds for the vital cancer charity.

Councillor Paul Gittings, lead member for Sport, said: “This is the first time Reading Sport and Leisure has hosted a Swimathon and I am sure it will be a fantastic sporting event as well as raising money for a very worthy cause.

“I encourage all local keen swimmers to sign up for the challenge. All levels of fitness, all abilities and all ages are accounted for with our range of Swimathon challenges, so you don’t need to be an elite swimmer to enter.”

A staggering total of £46million has been raised in the first 29 years, with cancer support charity Marie Curie being nominated as headline partner for the 30th anniversary.

Swimmers can choose to take on individual challenge of up to 5k, or they can join forces with colleagues, friends or family for a team 1.5k and 5k.

Olympic legend and Swimathon ambassador, Duncan Goodhew, added: “For the last 29 years it has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop and mature into the great event it is today.

“Swimathon really was ahead of its time giving people a chance to get active and do some good at the same time. I am so proud of both Swimathon’s longevity and its legacy.”

Visit: swimathon.org/participants/register to take part in Swimathon 2017 next month.