Leisure Centre staff dive in to training for charity

Hillsborough Leisure Centre staff are diving in to training for the Marie Curie Cancer Care Swimathon.

Four staff at the centre have joined forces to share the 5km distance at the centre’s Swimathon days which take place on April 16 and April 18.

Making use of his surroundings, customer services manager Phil Blanckley has been boosting his fitness in the centre’s Fitness Unlimited gym, while in the rock pool he has been improving his swimming technique at the weekly Swimfit coached sessions. At the classes every Wednesday evening, an instructor is on hand to provide advice and assist in improving his swimming skills and development.

Phil has also been attending lane swimming slots several times a week along with receptionist Dawn Charlesworth and swimming instructor Simon Wadsworth.

Hillsborough Leisure Centre is one of 500 swimming pools nationwide taking part in the 5km Swimathon, which can either be done alone or as part of a team.

In Sheffield, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and Westfield Sports Centre are also hosting the event across the weekend April 16-18.

Richard Apps, general manager at Hillsborough Leisure Centre, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues, makes up the team.

He said: “We’ve all been getting fit and healthy to take on this challenge and making good use of the excellent facilities at Hillsborough to make sure we’re feeling our best.

“The Swimathon is a great team effort and it’s great that all the staff are pulling together to do something really worthwhile for charity.

“It costs £20 to provide one hour of nursing care and the organisation has 2,700 employees so I urge everyone to get involved with such a remarkable and valuable charity on the Swimathon day.”

Hillsborough’s Swimathon days run from 7.05pm- 9.35pm on Friday 16 April, and 1.05pm - 3.35pm on Sunday 18 April.

For more information, visit www.hillsboroughlc.co.uk or call 0114 231 2233