Support the YMCA's Swimathon

The YMCA is calling on locals to get down to Gratwick Aquatic Centre on March 11 and get involved in a world-record breaking attempt swimming fundraiser.

Port Hedland is one of four WA locations hosting the YMCA Swimathon, which aims to attract more than 30,000 participants at over 100 pools nation-wide.

YMCA area manager Darren Armstrong said the money raised in Port Hedland at the event would stay in the local community, in this case going towards restarting term swimming lessons at the pool.

“It’s been around five years since we’ve had in-term swimming lessons here, we’re working with the Town of Port Hedland and Department of Education to look at starting them up again, and the money raised at this event would really help,” he said.

“We want as many people to get involved as possible, it’ll be a fun day and it’ll help out the community a lot.

“We’re looking at getting a corporate challenge going, we’d love to see some of the bigger mining companies get a team in and go head-to-head.”

Swimathon participants choose their preferred swim from one of seven distances – an under 50m novelty swim, swims of 50m, 100m, 200m, 500m, 1000m or a one hour lap challenge, and get friends and family to sponsor their swim.

The event aims to raise over $1 million for local communities across the country.

YMCA Perth chief executive Ross Kyrwood said the Swimathon was all about participation and active fun, as well as getting as many Western Australians in the water as possible to get the event in the record books.

“We’d really love the people of Port Hedland to get behind their local Swimathon as not only will it give the event a better chance of securing a world record, but also help us to provide local programs to benefit young people in the community,” he said.

For more information or to register please visit www.ymcaswimathon.org.au.