Covid 19: London Marathon organisers announce cancellation of swimming fundraiser

A charity swimming event to raise money for Children with Cancer UK is the latest annual fundraising occassion to be cancelled due to Covid-19.

Swim Serpintine event organisers London Marathon Events had hoped the fundraiser would take place in a socially distanced way on Saturday 26 September.

“However, the recent surges in Covid-19 since lockdown was eased and the uncertain current situation sadly mean it’s not possible to stage the event this year,” said the organisers.

📣 EVENT UPDATE 🏊♀️

The recent surges in Covid-19 since lockdown was eased and the uncertain current situation sadly mean it’s not possible to stage the event this year.⁣

Find the full update here: https://t.co/qOv2KcSPux pic.twitter.com/NlSSEiPk7L
— Swim Serpentine (@SwimSerpentine) August 20, 2020

The organisers hope to once again stage the event in 2021 and those due to take part will be contacted in October this year to see if they would like to roll over their entry to next year or prefer a refund.

Last year’s event was the fourth and offers swimmers the chance to take part in a variety of distances at the Serpentine Lake in London’s Hyde Park, which was the scene of the London 2012 Olympic open swimming and triathlon events.

Its headline partner in 2019 was also Children with Cancer UK, which supports welfare projects as well as research.

The event is organised by London Marathon Events, which also runs the Virgin Money London Marathon that this year was pivoted to become an elite-only event, with fundraising participants encouraged to take part virtually. Fundraisers are being asked to complete the race’s 26.2 mile distance on 4 October using a newly developed London Marathon app.