Dementia Support Line
We’re challenging you to swim 1, 5 or 10 miles in 30 days.
Take on a challenge that will leave you feeling motivated, invigorated and inspired. Plunge into the warm waters of your local pool or the embrace the cold in an open water swim. Relish in the sense of achievement and, with every length you complete, know that your miles matter to people living with dementia.
Sign up for free today, start a fundraising page, and dive in!
When you raise £100 for Alzheimer's Society, we'll send you a medal in the post to celebrate your achievement. Raise £300 to receive a swim cap and Alzheimer's Society cotton t-shirt to wear with pride on your next trip to the pool.
How far will you go for dementia?
Feel the love, support and community when you join our Swim for Dementia Facebook group. Share tips, progress updates and words of encouragement with your fellow swimmers.
How far will you swim?
You can pick your distance from 1, 5 or 10 miles. Or go freestyle and pick your own. Take part at your local pool, lido or brave the open water.
1 mile = 64 lengths of 25m pool
5 miles = 322 lengths of 25m pool
10 miles = 644 lengths of 25m pool
Freestyle - pick your own!
What you need to know
It's free to take part and there is no minimum fundraising target. We'd encourage every participant to raise £100 and earn their well-deserved medal.
You’re responsible for tracking your own mileage. Track your distance using your phone, smart watch or other device. You can link your Strava app or Fitbit to your JustGiving fundraising page to keep your friends and family up to date with your challenge.
The difference your fundraising can make
- £300 means over 1,700 people can access Talking Point, our online forum. Here people can learn from each other experiences, share their frustrations and their knowledge of local services.
- £95 provides a telephone-based Dementia Adviser for a full day. Providing essential support to those affected by dementia.
- £15 turns four ordinary citizens into superhero Dementia Friends! There is a stigma attached to living with dementia and Dementia Friends facilitates societal change, helping people understand the impact on people’s lives.
Why you should join our swimming challenge
- The health benefits – swimming can increase stamina, strength, aerobic fitness and burn calories. It’s a fun way to get fit, maintain a healthy weight and keep active.
- This challenge is a great way to stay motivated and keep up your daily exercise. Take part when and where you want – in your local pool, lido or brave the open water.
- With water on your skin and pride in your heart, your amazing efforts will bring help and hope to everyone living with dementia.
FAQs
Contact us about this event
Got a question about this event? Get in touch and we'll respond as soon as we can.
We’re challenging everyone to swim 1, 5 or 10 miles within 30 days. You can track your miles each day using a smart watch or by counting your lengths. If you’d like to increase the distance and set a higher target, that’s completely up to you!
No – Swim for Dementia is free to take part!
You can set your own target, we suggest £100.
Everyone who raises £100 will be posted an Alzheimer's Society medal. Raise £300 to receive a swim cap and t-shirt.
You can track your miles however you wish. Use your favourite app or simply count your lengths.
If you use Strava or Fitbit, you can link your account to your JustGiving page to track your activities and share your progress with your supporters. When viewing your page, scroll down to the Fitness Activity box and click Connect with Strava or Connect with Fitbit. See the full instructions for Strava here and for Fitbit here.
Only connect once you're ready to start your challenge as all of your activities will upload to your page. Once setup you can change your settings by clicking Manage Strava/Fitbit Settings found in the same Fitness Activity box on your fundraising page. This will let you pick what information you share on your page.
If you don't use Strava or Fitbit, you'll find a button to Add manual data in the Fitness Activity box, under the Connect with Strava button. You can manually add your activities to keep your supporters updated on your progress and track your total activity.
See JustGiving's help pages here if you're having a problem connecting.
All UK residents who raise £100 or more on their JustGiving fundraising page will receive a special medal in the post to say thank you.
We'll send out one medal per fundraising page setup, if you would like additional medals please get in touch.
You don't need to do anything to claim your medal, we'll pop it in the post. We send out medals in the last week of each month, so your medal should arrive within 4-6 weeks of you hitting the £100 target. If it's been longer than 6 weeks and you haven't heard from us, please pop us an email so we can help to [email protected].
Please set up a Just Giving page to fundraise. All income is transferred directly to us. You will be able to share your progress on Facebook and Twitter too.
We will also provide fundraising tips and support throughout your journey. We ask you to get any final donations over to us within a month of completing your challenge.
You can download a sponsorship form here.
We can of course send more copies in the post if you need them - simply email us at [email protected] to request this.
The money you raise will make a big difference to the lives of many affected by dementia. We fund essential support services for people living with dementia and their carers, as well as funding research to find a cure.
To find out more you can visit our website at www.alzheimers.org.uk.
You can pay offline donations into your fundraising page, you also have the option to collect sponsorship via our sponsorship form or by sending us a cheque. Please view the full list on how to send in your offline donations.
Of course! Join our Facebook group to get chatting.
Prefer Strava? Join the Strava group here.
Download our 8 top swimming tips here.
There are lots of articles and tips on the Swim England website here. If you're looking to try something new with this challenge, it's important to seek advice first.
All UK residents who raise £300+ on their JustGiving page will get a free swim cap and t-shirt.
You don't need to do anything to claim your t-shirt and swim cap, we'll pop it in the post. We send out both in the last week of each month, so they should arrive within 4-6 weeks of you hitting the £300 target. If it's been longer than 6 weeks and you haven't heard from us, please pop us an email so we can help to [email protected].
You can purchase an Alzheimer's Society t-shirt from our shop here.