EUROPE's largest swimming event is coming to the Fire Service College Leisure Club, Moreton-in-Marsh next March.

Between March 18-24 more than 500 leisure centres, health clubs and spas around England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will be laying on 1,400 special Swimathon 2002 sessions for an estimated 40,000 swimmers - giving water babies of all ages and abilities every motivation to shape up and help raise over £2 million for some great causes.

Eighty-five per cent of the money raised by Swimathon 2002 will go to Macmillan Cancer Relief, the UK-wide cancer care charity that supports people living with cancer.

The Swimathon Foundation, established this year to give swimmers a more direct involvement with the way their sponsorship money is spent, will distribute the other 15% of the funds to smaller charities, local to the Swimathon pools.

Swimmers of all ages and abilities can take part in Swimathon 2002 in one of six ways, three timed (T) and three untimed (U): individual 5,000m (T), individual 2,500m (T), individual 1,500m (U), 5,000 relay in a team of four (T), or 5,000 in a team of up to six members (U).

A full Swimathon is the sport's equivalent to running a marathon - 5,000m works out at 200 lengths of a 25m pool or just over three miles.

The ever popular Simply Swim (U) is the flexible sixth category and is perfect for anyone who can't find a convenient pool or session time - just get down to any pool in the UK at any time during the month of March and swim as far as you can.

Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic gold medallist and founding president of Swim-athon, said: "The event has come a long way since 2,500 swimmers tested the water in a handful of London pools back in 1986.

"Last March saw 37,710 people swim an astonishing 35,000 miles to raise £2.4m for cancer charities - the first time we've smashed the £2m barrier in the event's 15-year history!

New for 2002, entrants will be given the chance to support a local Macmillan Cancer Relief appeal with the money they raise.

On top of free entry into their chosen pool, a swim hat and personalised certificate of achievement, they will also receive the exclusive Swim-athon 2002 'Swimmer's Guide' a guide to maximising the healthy effects of training for and completing a long distance swim.

Signing up for Swimathon 2002 couldn't be easier. Register online at www.swim-athon.org, phone the hotline on 0845 3670036 or pick up an entry form from your local participating pool.