A CHARITY is hoping its supporters will splash out this summer … by getting in the pool.
Launchpad, which aims to tackle causes of homelessness in Reading, is asking youngsters aged eight to 16 to swim 68 lengths of a swimming pool across the month of June.
This is the charity’s first fundraising challenge aimed at the age group, and the length total has been chosen to reflect the number of people that the charity supports each month.
The lengths can be completed in any pool, be it at school, a leisure centre, part of their swimming lessons or even, if they have one, at home.
And children don’t have to do all 68 lengths – the number is set by themselves. The only caveat is they must complete the challenge by the end of June.
To help children prepare for the challenge, Reading Borough Council’s leisure centre partner Better is offering a free swimming session at one of three pools in the area. And when they sign up, participants will also receive a special Launchpad silicone swimming hat and a swim tracker poster to tick off the lengths as they go.
The charity can wait for people to dive in and get behind the challenge.
Its head of marketing and fundraising, Kirsti Wilson, said: “We help 68 people in Reading get back on their feet every month – and our services do this in lots of different ways.
“We give rough sleepers a safe place to sleep in our supported housing and our teams also help anyone in the community who is worried about losing their home. Launchpad 135 is our work and life skills centre and it offers people who were homeless the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and get back into work.
“By taking part in this new and exciting challenge, children and young people in Reading will raise vital funds to ensure we can continue providing these vital services for local people in need. We are delighted to be working with Better, and local schools and parents in the area, to encourage eight- to 16-year-olds to take on the challenge, make a splash for cash and help homeless people.
“And we can’t wait to see the youth of Reading sporting our bright orange swim hats.”
Launchpad are asking each swimmer to raise a minimum of £150 – either by filling out sponsorship forms or via JustGiving. If just 100 children take on this challenge, they could raise as much as £15,000 to support the charity’s work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.
For more details, or to sign up, log on to: launchpadredading.org.uk/swim68
