Swimmers at Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre were treated to a special guest appearance on Saturday 28th April by Olympic gold medalist and London 2012 Ambassador Duncan Goodhew, plus BBC Radio 5 live to kick-start this year's Swimathon event.

The Swimathon Weekend 2012 celebrated its 25th Anniversary and joined forces with British Swimming and the BBC's Big Splash, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief.  The Swimathon Weekend 2012 gave thousands of swimmers the opportunity to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care through Swimathon's established Distance Challenges and for Sport Relief through the new 'Big Splash Mile'.

Model Jodie Kidd and London 2012 Ambassador Duncan Goodhew launched this event earlier in the New Year.

Duncan Goodhew said: "Swimathon started in London 25 years ago and hundreds of thousands of swimmers have taken part  and raised over £34million for worthwhile charities, which is all made possible thanks to pools such as Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre, which each year dedicate pool time and staff to ensure this amazing event is successful.  

This year's  Swimathon event has already raised over £1million, thereby raising much needed funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief.  Nearly 12million people swim regularly and that's what makes Swimathon so successful. Many people in London recognise swimming as the best form of exercise and Swimathon is the challenge to keep them training."        

Glenn Branch, General Manager at Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre said: "We were absolutely delighted to have had Duncan Goodhew attend this high profile event. He complimented  the team at Highbury Pool as a great example of the 1,300 sessions taking place throughout the UK.  Duncan signed photographs and chatted with swimmers and is a fantastic   ambassador for the sport of swimming".