Rotary Swimathon

Bedford School Pool

Saturday 15th March 2008

Event Information & Instructions

GETTING STARTED

Each team will consist of up to six people and all team members must be competent swimmers in water to a depth of 3.5 metres. Having found your swimmers the first step is to enter online, or download a form and send it in to Rotarian Mike Gilbert (contact details below). All teams must have submitted, and had accepted, an online or written entry in order to take part.

When your entry is accepted and your swimming time agreed you will be notified by e-mail or - for those entrants without internet access - by letter. All you need to do after this is to raise as much sponsorship as you can and turn up, fighting fit, on the day.

The entry process gives a choice of three preferred times for your team's swim. We will endeavour to offer the team's preferred times as far as we can, but inevitably there will be an element of "first come, first served" for the more popular times, so it would be a good idea to get your entry submitted as early as possible. There is no entry fee for the Rotary Swimathon.

SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship raised will be divided equally between Bedford Rotary Club and a charity nominated by the team. This must be a charity registered with the Charity Commission.

All sponsorship pledges should be recorded on the Swimathon Sponsorship Form. Sponsors have a choice of either pledging an amount per length swum or a single sum merely to complete the 50 minute swim.

A column is provided on the Swimathon Sponsorship Form by which donors who are individual taxpayers may make their payment subject to Gift Aid. This is a tax concession which allows the receiving charity to reclaim tax on the donation, in addition to the donation itself.

After the swim, it will be the team's responsibility to collect the promised sponsorship. The total amount of sponsorship money raised, together with the Sponsorship Form, should be sent to Rotarian Mike Gilbert at the address shown below. Cheques should be payable to Rotary Club of Bedford Benevolent Fund. As part of its service to participants, Bedford Rotary Club will handle the Gift Aid claim to the tax authorities and will forward the money raised for each team's nominated charity, including the reclaimed Gift Aid, to the charity concerned. You will be notified when this payment is made and the total value of your donation once the Gift Aid is added.

ON THE DAY

Please ensure that you arrive in good time so that you are able to be changed and ready to swim ten minutes before your allocated start time. There are, of course, changing rooms and showers at the pool.

Parking is available on the left before the security gates to Bedford School which you will meet once you have entered through the main entrance to the school, which itself is to be found on the east side of De Parys Avenue, Bedford.

Each team will swim for 50 minutes with start times at hourly intervals from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Teams may organise their relay of swimmers in whatever way they think fit. There is no requirement for each team member to shoulder an equal amount of the work, only a need for the swimming to be constant and unbroken for the entire 50 minutes.

Fully qualified lifeguards, provided by Bedford School, will be in attendance throughout the event.

Each lane will have a nominated steward provided by Bedford Rotary Club who will be responsible for certifying the number of lengths swum by each team.

Any team wishing to bring a few non-swimming supporters is welcome to do so.

ROTARY CONTACTS

Mike Gilbert

Bellever, 25 High Street, Roxton, Bedfordshire, MK44 3EA.

Tel: 01234 870077

E-mail: gilberts@uk4dsl.co.uk

RULES

The aim is for everyone to enjoy themselves in a relaxed atmosphere but there are, inevitably, a few rules as follows:

1. Do not enter the pool until directed by a steward.

2. Leave the water when directed by a steward. 3. Do not run or push into the pool, or dive into the water.

4. A single whistle blast will indicate the start and finish of each session.

5. The alarm or a continuous whistle blast will indicate an emergency and all swimmers must leave the pool immediately.

6. Do not tamper with the lane breaker ropes.

7. Do not bring glass or ceramic items into the pool area.

8. No photographs of children may be taken.

9. Please behave appropriately in the changing rooms.

10. No alcohol may be taken into the pool area.

11. All children taking part in the event must be supervised by a member of the organisation entering the team.

12. The Rotary Club of Bedford is unable to accept responsibility for personal possessions.