Moray residents are being encouraged to take on a swimming challenge in the name of a good cause later this month.
Buckie Rotary Club is staging a “Swimarathon”, where volunteers will group together to notch up a collective 1,000 lengths within an hour.
Funds raised from the event will go towards the End Polio Now charity, which aims to eradicate the disease in poor countries.
Organisers have suggested that people could form teams, with members taking it in turns to swim the distance of Buckie Swimming Pool.
Rotarian Charles McKay is rallying locals to join in and yesterday headed to the South Pringle Street venue to drum up some support.
Mr McKay said: “People can swim as much or as little as they like, it all helps.
“The kids love it, and older people who enjoy swimming are very welcome to join in too.
“The Swimarathon is fun, but there is a serious side as this is all to make sure that children in parts of the world still affected by polio can be made immune.”
Elgin Rotary Club held the annual challenge in the town’s Moray Leisure Centre last year and managed to amass £3,500 towards End Polio Now.
The international charity is backed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who believes the disease could be a thing of the past by 2019 thanks to efforts such as the Swimarathon.
This year’s event will take place on Saturday, February 25, between 1pm and 2pm.
Sponsor forms available from members of the Buckie Rotary Club, though donations can also be made without taking part in the challenge. For more information e-mail Mr McKay on charles13@uwclub.net
