Swim 10k Challenge - FAQs

Supporters raise money by challenging themselves to swim 10km in whatever way they choose over the month of November. 

 1st – 30th November  

Whilst we encourage everyone to complete this challenge throughout the month of November, this is a personal challenge, and you can start/finish your challenge at a time that is convenient for you.

It doesn’t matter if you choose to visit your local swimming baths, lido, or even outdoor spots, there are lots of ways to complete the challenge and raise money for life-saving research. Ideas include: 

• Visit your local swimming baths or leisure centre 

• Visit a local lido 

• Visit your local lake or loch 

• Take a dip in the sea 

There are people of all levels of fitness doing this challenge. The important thing is that you're doing something that challenges you. This will vary from person to person, so tailor the challenge however you like. It should be tough, but doable. However you choose to break down the 10 km, you’ll be helping beat cancer. 

You could choose to break the kilometres up throughout the days/weeks, for example, 2.5km a week over the month. 
 
To put this in perspective, 2.5km = 100 x 25m lengths, or 50 x 50m lengths. 

If you’re attempting the challenge outdoors, please wear a t-shirt during your challenge to help retain body heat. You may also like to wear other items of clothing, such as a wetsuit to aid buoyancy and make you more comfortable in the water. If in the outdoors (sea, loch, lake, etc) we recommend neoprene gloves and booties. Ultimately you should wear what you are comfortable with and will keep you warm. 

If you are planning to wear a tracking device, make sure it’s waterproof before entering the water.  

It’s important that you’re well prepared for your swim, especially if haven't swum for a while. See below a list of appropriate equipment you might want to consider: 

• Swimsuit / swim shorts 

• Goggles  

• Sunscreen 

• Ear plugs  

• Nose clip 

There are many hazards to swimming in a reservoir therefore we advise against using them. 

• Reservoirs can be deceptively deep with unexpected drops which aren’t visible from outside of the water 

• Reservoirs are often in isolated places, making it difficult to receive immediate help 

• Hidden pipes and machinery can be hazardous 

• The sides can be steep and difficult to get out from 

• There may be hidden obstacles, rubbish, broken glass, etc that people have discarded, and may cause injury 

• The temperature tends to be very low

The minimum age for participation is 18. Anyone under this age should not undertake the Swim 10k challenge. 

Supporter can visit this web page to register: https://activities.cancerresearchuk.org/swim-10k-challenge-nov-2024  (registration = Giving Page and Swimming incentive sent to supporter) 

Once they have signed up, they will receive a confirmation email and be prompted to join the Facebook Group 

To join the Facebook group directly, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3739047246413096  

Once you have signed up, join the Facebook Group dedicated to this challenge: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3739047246413096. Click 'Join Group'. 

Once you're in, you can complete a form to get your free Swim incentive plus an Online Giving Page to raise money online. You’ll then receive an email with tips for completing the challenge, and be part of a group full of other inspiring fundraisers where you can find out anything you want to know about the challenge. 

Strava or Fitbit are free apps that will allow you to track your distance, please bear in mind that if you’re using a tracking device, you should ensure that it’s waterproof! 

Find out how to connect your Giving Page to Strava here: https://main.int.cruk.org/strava  

Find out how to connect your Giving Page to Fitbit here: https://main.int.cruk.org/fitbit 

*Please note: Sometimes there is a 48-hour lag in the Strava/Fitbit data being updated, and if the kilometres still aren't showing, disconnect and reconnect to do a hard reset and this will add any miles already on the Strava account. 

Use the link below to order your CRUK bobble hat (you’ll also receive a Giving Page to raise money online): https://activities.cancerresearchuk.org/swim-10k-challenge-nov-2024  

If you have already placed your order, please allow 10 working days for your bobble hat to arrive.

Sure, if you don’t have Facebook, you can set up a Giving Page using the link below and collect sponsorship that way:  https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/signup/?fundraising_page_type=4ac7b466-6b1a-478e-b67f-74e2ac8e92c8&channel=swim-10k-challenge-nov-2024  

We trust you! You don’t need to provide evidence that you’ve completed the challenge to us. However, updating your friends and family on your fundraising page is important. 

Make sure you keep them posted on your progress and share videos and photos throughout the month of the challenge – the more updates the better. 

Whilst we will be encouraging most people to take part in November, this is a personal challenge so you can and finish at a time that is more suitable and convenient for you. 

There is not a minimum amount of fundraising that we set for participants, but we recommend you set a reasonable target of raising about £150.

We'll provide a digital certificate at the end of the challenge. Unfortunately, we cannot provide medals, however, you will be able to claim your FREE Cancer Research UK bobble hat ahead of the challenge starting. 

You can use our sponsorship form to raise money rather than using an online method. Simply download and print off to keep track of all your sponsorship collected or pledged. Once you have completed your fundraising, please send the form with a cheque to:   

Swim 10k, Cancer Research UK, PO BOX 1561, Oxford, OX4 9GZ.  

Please note we are currently experiencing a delay in receiving and processing donations so do bear with us if it takes a little longer than usual to receive an acknowledgment.   

This challenge is specifically a fundraising initiative developed by Cancer Research UK, and therefore all fundraising must go direct the charity. 

Gift Aid is a tax relief allowing UK charities to reclaim an extra 25% on every eligible donation made by a UK taxpayer. This means Cancer Research UK can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, without it costing you or your sponsors an extra penny. If the donation is eligible for Gift Aid, sponsors need to fill out the sponsor form, following the guidelines at the top of the page.

Most questions around Online Fundraising Pages are covered here: https://main.int.cruk.org/cancer-research-uk-giving-pages-help 

Facebook fundraisers are automatically set up for seven days. To make the most of your fundraising efforts, you just need to change the end date to keep your fundraiser open throughout the challenge. 

To change the end date simply, click ‘More’ under the invite button, then click ‘Edit Fundraiser’. 

Friends and family will no longer be able to donate to your Facebook Fundraiser once your fundraiser has ended. The end date is automatically set to 7 days after you create your Facebook Fundraiser, so make you set the end date to after the end of November to collect donations throughout the challenge. 

Go to your Facebook Fundraiser page, found in the 'Fundraisers' section on the left hand menu of your News Feed. To change the end date simply, click ‘More’ under the invite button, then click ‘Edit Fundraiser’. 

Unfortunately, once your Facebook Fundraiser has finished you cannot reopen the same fundraising page. However, you can create a new one and set the end date for past your challenge, so that you can continue receiving donations once you’ve finished your challenge: http://www.facebook.com/fund/cancerresearchuk/

If a supporter chooses to swim in open water: 

• Please read this safety advice in full and be aware participation is at your own risk. Whether you choose to take part in the sea, a lake, a loch, your local swimming pool, or lido, it’s important you understand how to stay safe while fundraising for Cancer Research UK. 

• If you are doing the challenge in open water, never undertake this challenge alone. Please enjoy this challenge with others who can assist you should it be required. Always be aware of your location and take your mobile phone to wherever you are swimming. 

• If you are considering attempting this challenge outside in open water, please check weather forecast, tides, water conditions in advance and plan accordingly. Ensure you know the conditions and how to protect yourself, and do not partake if you do not feel fully confident. 

• Always ensure you have taken a means of calling for help in case of an emergency for you or someone you are with. 

• Check local advice and choose your locations carefully. Seek out locations which are familiar to you and ideally with local lifeguards. Ensure it is safe for you to get in the water, and you can exit easily. 

• Taking on this challenge is entirely at your own risk, so please assess your ability and safety before you participate. Cancer Research UK shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss to you or your property that might occur as a result of your participation. 

• If you have underlying health conditions (i.e., heart disease, asthma, lung conditions) or any other medical conditions that might be affected by exposure to cold water, or if you are pregnant, then please seek appropriate medical advice before proceeding 

• Do not take part in the challenge under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

• Plan your outdoor swims in daylight hours and avoid dipping in the dark. 

• Approach the challenge sensibly and don’t go beyond your ability levels to participate in the challenge. 

• If you are swimming in open water, it’s advised that you wear brightly coloured clothes, and your Cancer Research UK bobble hat so you can be easily spotted. It will also help you retain body heat while in the water. 

• If taking part in open water, you may also like to wear a wetsuit, which would aid buoyancy and make you feel more comfortable in the water. Neoprene boots and gloves are also a good addition to ensure your hands and feet do not get too cold.   

• Always enter the water slowly and avoid jumping in as this could cause cold water shock. 

• Seek help immediately if you feel very cold, woozy, nauseous, disorientated, dizzy or faint. 

• In case of open water emergency, call 999 for help and ask for a coast guard. 

• Warm up gradually after getting out of the water, dry yourself off and put on warm, dry layers.  

• Avoid standing around, have a warm drink and some food, and move to a warm location, especially if you’re swimming outside.

• We recommend reading the following guidance too:  

• https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/open-water-swimming#section-anchor-link---summary 

• https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/summer-safety/ 

• If swimming indoors, such as at a local swimming bath, please observe their rules. These normally entail things like no running around the pool, no diving unless specified, not to swim after consuming alcohol, checking depth and length to check you are confident with it, etc. Ask a member of staff for guidance if you’re unsure. 

• Taking on this challenge is entirely at your own risk, so please assess your ability and safety before you participate. Cancer Research UK shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss to you or your property that might occur as a result of your participation. 

• If you have underlying health conditions (i.e., heart disease, asthma, lung conditions) or any other medical conditions that might be affected by this challenge, or if you are pregnant, then please seek appropriate medical advice before proceeding. 

• Do not take part in the challenge under the influence of drugs or alcohol.