Event Information - Maidstone Swim Relay
What is Swim Relay?
Swim Relay is a sponsored team swim and a great way for the teams to raise money for Demelza, Air Ambulance and, if they wish, their own local charity or club. There is no upper or lower age limit to take part in Swim Relay and it doesn’t matter whether you’re an expert swimmer or a complete novice. As long as you can manage a length of the pool, you can take part in Swim Relay.
It’s not a race (although some of the younger teams can’t help being a bit competitive) it’s a fun swim. Teams of 4 – 6 people take it in turns to swim up and down the pool, one length each, and raise sponsorship money for every length they swim. The aim is to swim as many lengths between the team members as you can manage in 20 minutes.
Entry to the event, both for teams and for spectators, is completely free!!! And there is no minimum sponsorship target!!!
How do you put together and register a team?
Typically we have teams taking part as families, from locals schools, local sports clubs and other local groups and organisations. But anyone can do it. You just need 4 – 6 people to make a team and register them here. Alternatively click on the ‘enter a team’ tab in the toolbar above to be taken straight to a registration form
How do we raise money and where does the money go?
Our partner charities for Swim Relay this year are Demelza and the Air Ambulance and we ask for at least 50% of the funds that teams raise to be donated to them.
However we recognize that some teams may want to also support other charities so, after the first 50% (which will go to the 2 main charities), the remaining funds may be sent to any charity nominated by the team or, if they wish, used to bolster their club funds. We’re very conscious of how sports clubs and other organisations have been squeezed in recent times and this is an excellent way of building up some team spirit whilst at the same time supporting local charities as well as potentially helping their own club.
Donations can be made through the Just Giving page set up for each team. There is an option when donating to specify that all of the funds be sent to Demelza and the Air Ambulance or alternatively, to where the remaining 50% of money raised should be sent.
To donate money or sponsor a team please click here to be taken to the fund-raising page.
When and where is it being held?
Swim Relay is held at Maidstone Leisure Centre in in Mote Park and the 2026 event will be held on Sunday 22nd March 2026. The event starts at 11.30 and ends at 5.00pm although teams will be allocated a 30 minute slot within the day. We ask that all teams arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of their start time to allow time for registration, to get changed and to receive a briefing ready for their start time.