What It Is
Click here to watch a video from the 2009 Fitzroy Mega Swim
Click here to watch a video from the 2008 Sydney Mega Swim
The 24 Hour Mega Swim is a fun team event comprising of no more than 15 swimmers per team. Each team must have one swimmer in the water for the entire 24 hours. It is up to the team how they swim it. Some teams have been known to have their swimmers swim in blocks of 15 minutes right up to 4 hours. There is no set formula.
Swimmers are then asked to raise money through sponsorship. This can be a one off donation or by sponsoring the swimmers based on the number of laps they do. That is entirely up to the participants. It has been found to be easier with a one off donation.
The 24 Hour Mega Swim has been designed as a competition with points awarded to each team. Each team will receive 1 point for every $10 raised and 1 point for every 500m swum. The winning team's name will be displayed on the perpetual plaque at the venue. The team will also receive trophies and an award to be displayed at the winning team's place of business.
Carol Cooke, who conceived the 24 Hour Mega Swim idea in 2001, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. The first event was held at the City of Yarra’s Fitzroy Pool - the 10 competing teams raised over $22,000. What a fantastic first effort – the grounding for future highly successful 24 Hour Mega Swim events.
Due to continued support from a wide range of MS supporters and the successful formula, the inaugural event has continued to expand both in size and fundraising capacity - in 2009 over $190,000 was raised by 32 teams.
The 24 Hour Mega Swim is fast becoming a prominent event on the national calendar of sporting and community events with expansion across Australia.
The 24 Hour Mega Swim is a community event encouraging people of all genres to take part in an event in such a positive manner as part of fundraising for such a worthy cause. Participants are from a diverse range of ethnic and religious backgrounds, age, physical and mental abilities, community groups, sporting clubs, businesses and social communities - all are invited and encouraged to be a part of the popular 24 Hour Mega Swim activity.
Funds raised from the 24 Hour Mega Swim supports the Go For Gold Foundation which provides scholarships to people living with Multiple Sclerosis to aspire and achieve to the best of their ability and also contributes to Financial Assistance Programs to provide direct and immediate support for people living with MS.
If you are interested in running a 24 Hour Mega Swim or have general enquiries please contact the office on (03) 9845 2966 or email megaswim@msaustralia.org.au