Swim an Olympic mile for charity! Mencap Mile event at Dorney Lake, Windsor on Sunday 30th September

Wednesday 25 July 2012

On Sunday 30th September 2012, Mencap will be hosting its annual Mencap Mile event, where members of the public will get the opportunity to swim one mile in the prestigious Dorney Lake in Windsor, which will stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games rowing and kayaking events.

People with a learning disability, their families and carers are at the heart of everything Mencap does. The money raised from this event will go straight to supporting Mencap’s work to provide services and advice, challenge prejudice and campaign for the changes that people with a learning disability want and need to allow them to live an independent life.

There will be a range of prizes for the top swimmers on the day and for the person who sends Mencap the most sponsorship by 31st October 2012.

Former Paralympic swimmer Marc Woods, winner of four Paralympic gold medals, is supporting the Mencap Mile:

Swimming has always been a passion of mine from an early age. The Mencap Mile combines a great challenge for swimmers of all abilities with the chance to raise money for a fantastic cause. Get involved!

Ellen Goodey has a learning disability and works for Mencap. She is taking part in the Mencap Mile:

I wanted to take part in the Mencap Mile as I like swimming. I also want to raise some money to support Mencap's work with people with a learning disability as working at Mencap has given me more confidence in the workplace and has helped me to improve my skills.

Rachel Croshaw, Events Officer at Mencap, says:

The Mencap Mile is always a popular and fun-filled event, and this year will be even more exciting as we hope to capture the enthusiasm surrounding the London 2012 Games by hosting the swim at a spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games venue.

We realise that not everyone will be able to get to Windsor for the big day, so we’re encouraging those who can’t make it to host their own swimming events in their local towns and spread the spirit of the Mencap Mile across the UK.

The registration fee to take part in the Mencap Mile is £15 for under 16s, £25 for adults, or £60 for a team of three. Although it is not essential for participants to raise sponsorship, Mencap would ask individual swimmers to try and raise a recommended £50, and teams a recommended £150, to support its work. £50 could help Mencap to pay for two young people with a learning disability to take part in the Gateway Award programme for one year, which encourages young people to gain new skills and experiences, become more independent, make friends, be active in the community and have better health and wellbeing.

All swimmers will receive a fundraising pack, training guidelines, a swimming cap, goody bag and a medal from Mencap.

To sign up for the Mencap Mile:

• Call: 020 7696 6946
• Email: events@mencap.org.uk
• Visit: www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/events/mencap-mile

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Notes to editors

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Lisa Gilbert, PR Officer, on 020 7696 6950 or lisa.gilbert@mencap.org.uk.

About Mencap Mile

The Mencap Mile is an annual fundraising event run by the learning disability charity Mencap, where participating members of the public swim one mile in an outdoors venue. Now in its third year, the Mencap Mile will take place on Sunday 30th September at Dorney Lake, Windsor, SL4 6QP.

The nearest train stations are Windsor Central, Windsor and Eton Riverside, Slough or Taplow. A taxi is the best way to get to Dorney Lake from there. A map and directions can be found online at: www.dorneylake.co.uk/directions.html. Alternatively, free parking will be available at the venue.

Registration opens at 2pm until 3.30pm on the day. The first swimmers start at 3pm, and then further waves go every 10 minutes.

About Mencap

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also one of the largest providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. People with a learning disability and their carers can find out more about our services by calling Mencap Direct on 0300 333 111 or by visiting www.mencap.org.uk

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.

People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complex information and interact with other people.

The level of support someone needs depends on individual factors, including the severity of their learning disability.