Swimming a million metres for a million dollars

Members of the Carterton Indoor Pool Project are inviting swimmers from all around the world to make a splash during the month of March, to contribute to the massive community fundraising effort to help save the Carterton Indoor Swimming Pool.

The aim of the CENTRAL ITM Big Swim is to swim a cumulative total of million metres to raise a million dollars, through individual efforts and challenge events, with an opportunity for anyone to take part in a postal swim, anytime during March, from anywhere in the world.

Local swimmers will have the chance to swim at the Carterton Indoor Pool during the CENTRAL ITM Big Swim Weekend between 7-10 March, which also includes a Wairarapa Schools Day on Thursday 7 March, as well as a Community Day at the Carterton Outdoor Pool on Sunday 10 March.

Carterton Indoor Pool Project Chair Anna Beetham says the 35-year old pool desperately needs replacing. "The Carterton Indoor Pool is the only public indoor pool in the Southern Wairarapa and it’s in need of an urgent upgrade so the community can continue to use it all year round,” she explained.

“If work doesn’t begin soon then our community is in danger of losing this invaluable asset. Anyone can help to keep it open by taking part in this fundraiser, no matter where they live in the world. All you have to do is register your own Givealittle fundraising page, link it to our Big Swim NZ Givealittle page and take up one of our challenges.

“Individual swimmers are recognised on completing various distances, with ribbons awarded to those participants who successfully swim 1k, 5k, or Triple 5k. Iconic distances such as swimming the Cook Strait (23k), the English Channel (34k) or across Lake Taupo (40.2k) will also be celebrated with a special Endurance Medal. Scarlett Wadham, a 13-year-old competitive swimmer from Carterton Swimming Club, has already committed to swim 100km during the month, which is more than these three major distances combined!

“You will receive an event swim cap if you raise over $50 and a t-shirt if you raise more than $500. All swimmers under the age of 16 will be given certificates and ribbons, no matter what distance they complete.

“We’d like to thank CENTRAL ITM for their generous support of our community fundraiser, as well as Swimming Wellington, SPLASH, Printcraft, Go Media and The Wairarapa Times Age,” she added.

Entry details are available on the website www.thebigswim.nz and local swimmers looking to book a session time during the CENTRAL ITM Big Swim Weekend event can email kiaora@createasplash.co.nz.

The deadline for completed postal swims is 31 March 2024 with swim information and verification to be received no later than 7 April 2024.