Fundraisers from across the North-East will be making a splash for charity at the Sunderland Aquatic Centre this weekend.
Argos staff from stores around the region will converge on the Olympic-standard pool for a ‘swimathon’ to boost the coffers of the Alzheimer’s Society on Sunday from 2pm to 7pm.
Organiser Stephen Snowball, who is the manager of the Argos store on Sunderland’s High Street, is confident that the event will prove to be a double winner.
“The money we raise will support Alzheimer’s Society campaigns and services as well as the vital research into the causes of dementia that it funds. But this will help by increasing people’s understanding of dementia and that has to be a good thing because everyone wants to change things for the better.”
Stephen, who is an Argos charity champion, has already seen the fundraising initiative reap rewards among Argos staff since Alzheimer’s Society became the High Street chain’s charity of the year.
He is hoping the sponsored swim – open to families and friends of Argos staff – will take the fundraising total for the North-East to over the £30,000-mark but believes understanding has already exceeded targets.
“Dementia is devastating disease and that is why we are so committed to making a positive difference.”
“We’d done physical challenges before but they were mainly a lot of runs and walks and biking events but I thought this is a good way of getting staff and families involved as well as friends to raise money for a great cause.”
Alzheimer’s Society media and communications officer Rob Stewart is due to take part in the event and is relishing the challenge.
“It might take me five hours to it but after speaking to Stephen I felt determined to swim a mile for the first time in my life” said Rob.
“The Argos swimathon sounds like a great event for all the family and every penny raised will be used to make life better for people with dementia and hopefully one day find a cure.”
