HEREFORD Leisure Pool is urging people to don their swimming costumes and make a big splash to help raise £2.5 million for Macmillan Cancer Relief, as part of Butlins Swimathon 2004.

The pool is one of 500 swimming pools taking part in the Butlins Swimathon 2004 between March 13-21 across Britain. Over 30,000 swimmers of all ages and abilities are expected to take part in the event.

The pool, in St Martin's Avenue, is putting on seven Swimathon sessions for local swimmers during the course of the week.

Stuart Morrish, swimming co-ordinator at the pool, said: "Butlins Swimathon is a fantastic event, not only does all the money raised go to Macmillan Cancer Relief and The Swimathon Foundation, but it gives us all a challenge and a chance to burn off some of that Christmas excess"

He added: "There has been a real buzz surrounding the event and our participants just cannot wait to dive in and raise some cash for charity."

Participants can sign up for one of seven challenges - swimathon (individual 5,000m), half swimathon (individual 2,500m), relay swimathon (5,000m for two to five people), fun swimathon (individual 1,500m), team swimathon (teams of two to five people swimming up to 5,000m), simply swim (for those that want to take part, but cannot make any of the official swimathon sessions) and endurance swimathon (individual 10,000m).

Register online at www.swimathon.org, phone the Butlins Swimathon hotline on 0845 36 700 36 or pick up an entry form from your local participating pool.