A swimmer within the lanes of a pool
Swim

Marathon Swims

Event Type Swim
Date 8 November 2025
Location London Aquatics Centre
Registration Fee £14.75 to £59.50, depending on distance
Fundraising Target £150 to £300, depending on distance
Level Moderate to Tough

You can now register your interest for the 2025 event!

We're delighted to be the charity partner for Marathon Swims 2025! Register your interest above and we will be in touch when registrations open!

The challenge

Marathon Swims is a one-day open pool swimming event staged at London Aquatics Centre, on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Take on the ultimate swimming challenge at an amazing location!

This is your chance to swim a marathon 10K or 1K distance. If you'd prefer, you can take on the marathon 10K challenge as a team of 2.

When you swim for us, you'll receive:

  • a support pack with fundraising help and materials
  • access to a Facebook group where you can chat to other swimmers
  • support from our dedicated events team to help you smash your fundraising target
  • the knowledge you're making a difference for everyone living with dementia

Already have your own place?

If you've purchased a place through the race organiser, you can use it to help end the devastation caused by dementia.

There's no minimum sponsorship target if you've purchased your own place, and we'll be here to support you throughout your challenge.

Want to take on an even bigger challenge?

Across November, take on the Virtual Marathon Swim. Challenge yourself to 10k, 25k, or 50k across 30 days. In a pool or out of doors, this challenge can be done your way in your time. It's free to enter, so why not agree to support us on signup and fundraise alongside? You could support everyone facing a dementia diagnosis.

Sign up for the Virtual Marathon Swim.

Fundraising

You'll receive a welcome pack with fundraising help and materials as well as support from our dedicated events team to help you achieve your goals.

The targets for charity place entries are:

  • £300 for the 10k marathon
  • £200 for the 5k marathon
  • £150 for the 1k challenge

Rewards

If you've agreed to sign up and swim for us you'll get a branded swim cap to show off in the pool!

Earn your t-shirt and locker/trolley token: if you reach your fundraising target before October 18th, we'll send a t-shirt and if you hit double your target we'll send you a locker/ trolley token keyring out for you to celebrate with! These are sent on a monthly basis.

 

FAQs

The event organisers are responsible for allocating start waves. If you wish to speak with them about this, we suggest you contact them directly. 

Yes you can! Spectators can pay for a Poolside Access pass or register for a free spectator pass (no poolside access). The free spectator passes will be launched later in the year. 

Anyone wanting to spectate who has not registered, they will need to access the building via the main centre reception.

A JustGiving page is the easiest way to fundraise and share your story. You can easily share your page with your friends, family and colleagues on social media and email, plus everything happens automatically.

The money you donate is sent to us, Gift Aid collected, and your sponsors thanked. Job done!

If you’re collecting money on a JustGiving page, there’s nothing you need to do, your sponsorship comes directly to us.

If you have collected any cash, you can bank it and pay in using one of these options: 

  • Pay the donations directly onto your JustGiving page if you have one.
  • Send a cheque made payable to Alzheimer’s Society to Alzheimer’s Society, Suite 2, First Floor East Wing, Plumer House, Tailyour Road, Plymouth, PL6 5DH. Please include our paying in form so we have your event details.
  • Pay over the phone with a credit or debit card. Call our lovely customer care team on 0300 222 5808.
Contact us about this event

Got a question about this event? Get in touch and we'll respond as soon as we can.

Ask a question
Call the events team