SWIMATHON organisers are hoping to see 48 teams taking the plunge in next year’s charity fundraiser.

The swimathon is organised by The Rotary Club of Northwich, and held in March at Northwich Memorial Court.

This year’s event raised £12,000, with nominated charities Macmillan Cancer Support, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Joshua Tree, receiving about half the money, the remainder going to charities supported by teams taking part.

They were St Luke’s Hospice, Winsford, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Vale Royal, Cardiac Risk in the Young, First Davenham Church Scouts, Neuromuscular Centre at Winsford and Age UK Cheshire.

David Martin from swimathon sponsors Headwater Holidays presented cheques to the nominated charities, and Headwater is sponsoring the 2017 swimathon, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12.

“Our 2016 event raised a great deal for local charities, but in addition our experience is those who take part really enjoy it, and we have many teams who come back each year,” said Garnet Ronander, chairman of the swimathon committee.

David Martin, Headwater Holidays marketing manager, said: “We are delighted to again be teaming up with the Rotary Club of Northwich to sponsor the 2017 swimathon.

“Last year was a fantastic event for those taking part and the charities which received a generous amount of funding.

“For 2017 we are hoping for an even bigger and better event, where we’ll see more people joining the swimathon fun and ultimately more money raised for the chosen charities.”

The swimathon is for swimmers of all ages and abilities, and although it is not a race and teams are not expected to compete against each other, for 2017 organisers are introducing an element of challenge between teams for those interested.

Businesses, organisations and individuals are invited to enter teams of up to six swimmers who ask friends, relations and work colleagues to sponsor them.

You don’t have to be part of a team to support the event, and donations are invited at justgiving.com/Northwich-Swimathon/ The Rotary Club of Northwich has run the event for 16 years, raising £130,000 for local charities.

Its named charities for 2017 are the local branches of Multiple Sclerosis and Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Once again, and in addition to the named charities, teams can nominate their own charity to receive half the sum raised by the team.

Teams are invited to express their interest in entering the event by emailing swimathon.rcnorthwich@gmail.com