Swim Ireland are one again including a corporate challenge as part of the 2017 Swim for a Mile Challenge taking place over the coming weeks and months.
It will take place at the National Aquatic Centre in April and the target is to attract 40 corporate teams of four swimmers each.
The overall target for this year is to get 2,500 people taking up the challenge and completing a ten week course of training leading up to swimming a mile at one of the nationwide venues between March 20th and April 2nd.
This year’s charity partner for the event, to which €3 of each entry fee will go is Special Olympics Ireland.
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“We’re delighted that the national governing bodies of Special Olympics Ireland and Swim Ireland have engaged in such a mutually beneficial partnership,” said Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and a long time member of Sport for Business.
“We are grateful for the support and particularly pleased to be involved in an initiative which is all about increasing participation in a lifelong sport.”
“We encourage our clubs, our volunteers and the wider community to get involved in the Swim for a Mile Challenge and are looking forward to the next 10 weeks.”
Swim for a Mile is open to swimmers of all abilities, from the regular to the lapsed, as long as you can swim at least two lengths of a pool.
The training programme has been specifically developed in line with the Department of Health Guidelines on exercise and aims to encourage people and give them the tools to embark on a new healthier lifestyle.
“We are excited about the 2017 initiative and Special Olympics Ireland coming on board as our charity partner,” said Swim Ireland CEO and Olympic Council of Ireland Presidential Candidate Sarah Keane.
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“We look forward to seeing the impact it’s going to have in terms of encouraging as many people as possible to experience the benefits of swimming.”
“There are groups all across the country taking part with coaching sessions available in all of our participating pools. Swimming is one of the only sports in which people of all abilities and ages can get involved and through Swim for a Mile we aim to show this and to encourage everyone to get involved and get active”.
The initiative is supported by Sport Ireland and €3 from every registration will go directly to Special Olympics with individuals and clubs across the country also participating and raising funds.
