Happy New Year - New Clubs, New Countries - Global Swim 2014!

Photo: Rotary / Rotaract Club of Shanghai event February 2013

Happy New Year everyone!

Right now there are just over 44 days to go until our 3rd Global splashtactular and thanks to your amazing support we continue to go from strength to strength. As always the stories of how new clubs find out about the event are endlessly fascinating!

In December we got our first ever registration from a club in Sweden. After we sent the event guides through we received this fantastic email from Billy Jernberg who registered the event.

"We are glad to be able to enter this event, which really shows the power of Rotary.
Our mission will be to challenge other clubs in Sweden to participate, we will use Facebook and our website to do that.

I first learned about your event when I was in Shanghai in February and visited the Shanghai Rotary club and was invited to swim in their Swimarathon."

So a visit to Shanghai China lead to a Swimarathon being set up at the other end of the world - wonderful!

Via Twitter we heard that our Rotarians in the Bahamas would be joining in - the variations in temperatures mean nothing - it's all about that common goal of eradicating Polio.

Just yesterday we received our first ever registration from Malaysia the Rotary Club of Ipoh South and with a 6 hour event, including celebrity guests, AquaZumba and a blood drive they have it very well organized!!

Talking of extra events, hopefully many of you will already be aware that there is another fantastic worldwide initiative going on during Rotary Week - The world's biggest Meal to End Polio Now. The event, the brainchild of my dear friends Susanne Rea from Australia-our most active Global Swim supporter over the last two years and the equally unstoppably dedicated PDG Mukesh Malhotra RIBI communities officer, fits perfectly with our Swimarathon events. Very easy to organize a meal before , during or after the event , or even during your normal club meetings.

Already in just a few weeks , 50+ clubs in 5 continents have signed up - take a look the map

and you can get all the details on how to register to take part on the facebook group

First a swim, then a meal - why not finish with flowers - Rotary Crocuses supporting End Polio Now.

Particularly for those clubs in the US and Europe, where these fantastic silk flowers are now available to order directly online - here's how you can order

So right now we have 302 clubs in 41 countries on our map - room for plenty more!

To join us please visit Rotary Global Swimarathon watch the 2 min registration video on how to sign up or follow instructions and you could be part of all this - remember doesn't have to be a big event, just a group of friends swimming together. As the Bill Gates foundation will treble all donations in 2013 for End Polio Now, every $1 raised counts as $3 , and with 3 great ways to raise, swim, meal and flowers, it's the perfect time to get involved!!










talkinTa

3 is the magic number! $1million in a day our goal for 2014!!

Here are 3 key facts:

1. Sunday 23rd February 2014 will be the 3rd year of Rotary Global Swimarathon.

2. The crippling disease of Polio is still endemic in 3 countries in the world.

3. Early this year, the Gates foundation announced that it would be match 2:1 all Rotary fundraising for End Polio Now - that means all donations will be tripled $1 = $3

So today with 133 days to go, the Rotary Club of Grantham are proud to announce the official End Polio Now fundraising target for 2014 is all the threes - $333,333 - with the trebling possible that would mean raising $999,999 in just 1 day (and I think we can round that up to a $1million!!)



Three reasons to believe we can achieve this amazing goal?

1. Rotary District 1010 are aiming to have 50 clubs take part and are targeting to raise £100,000 which x 3 = £300,000 or $500K!!

2. Delegates from every club in Rotary District 2980 India are planning to swim during their District conference in Malaysia

3. In 2012 we raised $100,000 in just 1 hour - so how much can we raise in 24 hours!!


And here's the thing - there are now three ways to even non-swimmers to join in - even those without an official organized event

1. Virtual swimming -led by District 3170 Rotarians and clubs around the world can join in a virtual swim where you can donate online and swim in your local pool, your gym, even your bath!

2. Rotary Crocus Flowers - Plans are well advanced to distribute purple silk flowers to clubs around the world, these beautiful flowers which symbolize the purple dye to indicate Polio immunization can be sold for $1 at all the events - perfect for spectators and well-wishers. (please visit http://www.rotarycrocus.com/about-1/partnerships/ for more info)

3. Announcing World's Greatest Meal to End Polio Now
Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1462743010619416/ - plan is to get as many clubs as possible to donate at least $1 per person from meals in and around Rotary Week (17th -23rd February 2014), and of course can extend that to meals during the Swim events that the participants and watching crowds enjoy!


So what are you waiting for!

Here's 3 things you can do right now to find out more

1. Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/rotaryglobeswim

2. Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/rotaryglobalswimarathon

3. Visit our website and register your club http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org


Together we can End Polio Now - 3 words that mean the world to us all!

Now EVERYONE in the world can join Global Swim!

11 days to go...

An incredible few weeks have seen us reach an truly extraordinary 232 clubs on the global map in 45 countries and 70+ Rotary districts http://goo.gl/maps/ELuKq.

We are now officially a 6 continent event being joined by clubs in Ecuador and Brazil in South America!

There are 124 club event entries registered on the website.

Here we are being highlighted as a key event for Rotary day on the Rotary International Web pages http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/130211_news_anniversaryprevu.aspx

Draws breath... But there is more, there is so much more to share.

If you are reading this and saying to yourself - there's only a few days to go, admirable project but its just too late for our club to join in - here's the big news.....

Thanks to the brilliant innovation and vision of Rotary E-Club District 3170 President Lizette Oldfalk you can join in wherever you are in the world! She's created a virtual team sign up

So you could swim at your gym, at the local pool, nip down to the beach and swim in the ocean - the possibilities are limitless. All you have to do is click on this event invite and donate a minimum of just $5 which goes to Rotary Foundation for End Polio Now http://rotaryglobalswim-eclubd3170-eorgf.eventbrite.com.au/ - and then please share it with you friends.

If you don't have the chance to swim, even if you can't swim, you can still be a part of this uniquely global happening. There's already $280 raised , this is going to be huge. Just imagine if every Rotarian donated just $5 - over $5 million!! Donations can be accepted from anywhere in the world

Talking of online donations for those of you taking part in Australia, Genevieve Carr of the Rotary Club of Kwinana has set up this page which goes straight to the Australian Rotary Foundation End Polio Now http://www.mycause.com.au/page/56184 there's already over $860 Australian dollars on there and you can create your own page for your swim team

We raised $105,000 in 2012, but with twice as many clubs and 3 times the average duration of events the possibilities of raising $500,000 or more are extremely real

And however you support us, please do be sure to spare a couple of minutes to register on our website so that we can track that you have taken part and keep you updated. Here's those video instructions once more.

Exactly 1 month till the world's greatest swim!

Dear Rotary Friends and Family around the world,
As someone who has put their very heart and soul into this incredible global event over the last two years, with exactly 1 month to go at 12 noon , I truly feel this is the perfect time for me to write a personal letter to you all.

It's a letter filled with enormous gratitude and wonder at we have collectively achieved, and a letter filled with anticipation about the possibilities that are opening up before us.

In late 2010, Rotary Global Swimarathon was nothing more than a momentary spark of inspiration from our event chair and fellow Rotary Club of Grantham member Roger Graves.

He just wanted to share a bit of the magic of our biggest club and community fundraiser with the rest of the world.



Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, Earlyactors, Rotakids, Inner Wheelers, families and friends, supported and inspired by Paralympians, Olympians and World Champions made that dream come true.

25 February 2012 the nearest Saturday to Rotary day saw the most inclusive and biggest simultaneous global swimming event in human history.

Guinness World Records officially recorded the 4546 participants aged between 8 and 93 synchronizing their 100 metre swims in 23 countries , 15 different time zones across 5 continents.

All united in the shared cause of eradicating Polio from this earth raising over $100,000 from that 1 inspirational hour.

So here we are in 2013. And on Rotary day the 108th anniversary of its foundation, 23 February 2013, it will be 24 inspirational hours.

It will be the biggest global Rotary club led same day fundraiser in our history. It is set to become the world's biggest ever inclusive same day global swimming event. One look at this map tells you all you need to know. 180 clubs in 43 countries and 6 continents.


View Rotary Global Swimarathon 2013 in a larger map

Except this. To add your club, or group, or even just you as a person to this map, all you have to do is find at least 1 person who is able to swim on 23 February 2013 and register on the website as instructed in the video below

Yes there will be well over 100 community events around the world, guaranteeing that in every minute of that 24 hours someone will be swimming with you. But you don't need to hire a pool or fill out detailed registration information to take part - it's not being measured by Guinness World Records this time, so there are no minimum participation requirements. You can choose to support End Polio Now or any other charity you choose, and you make the arrangements to donate funds raised locally.

All you need to do is register, let us know where you are swimmming, at what time, with how many people and after the event tell us how much you raised and for which charities. So please join us, be part of something bigger than all of us.

http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org



I'll leave you with the Rotary moment that changed my world in last year's event. Watching 14 year Moin Junnedi, India's youngest national paralympian completing his swim. He suffers from a severe brittle bones condition which has meant he's suffered with over 200 fractures during his young life- just a day or two before this swim, he suffered 4 fractures but was so determined to take part. Recently I was honoured to become his friend on Facebook - His ambition - to swim in our Grantham event - we will do whatever we can to make that happen in 2014 the 25th anniversary of our local swimarathon.



Right now, I want you to ask yourself just one question. Do I know someone who can swim? If you do, if that's you, if you can spare half an hour on a Saturday afternoon or whatever time suits you on 23 February 2013 in your time zone , please join us. Share it with your club, share it with your district, represent your entire country.

Be part of something magical. Together we really can make a difference.

Thank you for reading, your support means the world.

Paul

Paul Wilson
Rotary Club of Grantham
Rotary Global Swimarathon event co-ordinator

Please email rotaryglobalswimarathon@gmail.com for more information

33 days to go - 68 clubs in 17 Countries confirmed

Hi everyone,
Great to be able to give you the latest updates on Global Swimarathon - we are currently receiving and updating the event details from events around the world. What's actually wonderful is the information from just 22 events shows that already the full 24 hour day (apart from last 4 hrs) features someone swimming somewhere in the world

Here's another update on how many clubs in which countries are taking part - just shows how global it is that the top 4 countries are in 4 different continents - Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania!

1. England 18
2. USA 11
3. India 10
4. Australia 9
5. South Africa 4
6. Scotland 3
7. Pakistan, New Zealand, Ireland 2
10. Wales,Germany,Spain,Bosnia-Herzegovina,Croatia,Mexico,Canada,Egypt 1

The District Competition is also getting very close at the top with 11 Districts with more than 1 club entered - remarkably each District comes from a different Continent - so Oceania, Europe, Africa, Asia, North America

1. District 9550 6
2. District 1070 5
3. District 9320 4
4. District 3170 4
5. District 7040 4
6. District 2980 4
7. District 1110 3
8. District 1160 2
9. District 1280 2
10. District 9930 2
11. District 1010 2

Overall there are an amazing 39 Districts represented so far!

There is plenty of time to improve the standing of your District. Remember only takes 2 mins to sign up your club. If its a joint event, please register all the clubs taking part, if its a small event or a large one, we want to hear about it and share it with anyone. Here's that video again



Finally an appeal to anyone with contacts with clubs in South America - we dearly would love to see some South American Clubs join us this year - lets make it a 6 continent spectacular!

44 days to go - 60 entries confirmed!

Great news today as we reached another important milestone - 60 clubs now officially entered on the website - every chance of getting past 100 before January is out! Many thanks to Lawrence Tristam organizer of the Rotary Club of Petersfield event, in District 1110.

Now in the build up to last years event one or two clubs had to pull out close to the event date, but none were unluckier than RC Petersfield. They had the pool booked for 12pm all the team in place, the swimmers ready to go. Almost unbelievably the generator failed at 11.30am which meant that the swim could not go ahead. Definitely world record breakers every day of the week and so pleased to see them back.

There is of course one other unrecorded world record breaker who really deserves a mention. The infamous 4am ocean swim of Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise featured 84 swimmers....and a dog! Guinness world records may not have counted him in that number but today we salute the achievements of Branson - to the best of my knowledge the only world record participating canine swimmer in the Universe!

Here's the full story from the Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise website

http://www.lajollasunriserotary.org/gallery2.html

45 days to go - a trio of returning Swimarathons

Delighted to say the registrations are still pouring in - 3 more just today. All 3 are clubs who joined in the magical world record hour last year

First we have the Rotary Club of Wagner South Dakota in the US, then the Rotary Club of Perth in Canada (our 1st entry this year in Canada so country number 16) and last but not least our most Northerly club from last year the Rotary Club of East Sutherland in Scotland. Its a cool 11,300 miles between East Sutherland and Matamata in New Zealand - but they swam at the exact same time in 2012- just magical!!

Finally at this time of year I always like to have a sweep around on google to see the events being advertised - this one is the Rotary Club of Limavady in Northern Ireland http://www.limavady.gov.uk/news/333/

Just wonderful in terms of the legacy of the event that Rotary Club of Polmont who took part in the World Record have now created a 4 hour event for 2013 and I've just realised haven't registered on our website http://www.swimarathon.co.uk/swimarathon.html - so there's club number 60 right there!!

100 clubs should be in range very soon!

46 days to go - Our first E club registered!

Very quick update today, just to note that our 56th entry has come in from the Rotary Eclub of District 3170 India thanks to Lizette Oldfalk who's actually based in Texas . Just goes to prove the principle, you can arrange an event anytime, any place , anywhere

Brings us nicely to 175 clubs on the global map

http://goo.gl/maps/C40G5

Also to note that Greg Marlow from RC Tennants Creek in D9550 is attending District Rotary Foundation Training in San Diego USA next week and is going to pass on the message to all 530 Districts - so we can expect a lot more sign ups very soon!

47 days to go - 5 new registrations today- sign up week!

What a way to start the first full Rotary week of the New Year. Today I launched the first sign up week of 2013, and we've had no less than 5 club event entries in just 1 day taking the worldwide tally to 55 clubs in 34 districts and 15 countries.
A warm welcome to 2 new clubs RC Hitchin Mimram in D1260 England, and to RC Salem Cosmos in D2980 India, and a warm welcome back to RC Salem Midtown in D2980 and our first Interact registration this year from Interact Redwood in Pakistan D3272. In our local Grantham area Corby Glen Primary School have registered to join us to complete the 5. Let's try and keep that 5 a day momentum going!!

Please help us to keep spreading the key message. Whether its 1 swimmer or a 1000, whether in a paddling pool, a swimming pool, a Lake or the Ocean blue, if you are able to get some sponsorship and can swim at least 100 metres (can be assisted with floats etc) on 23 February 2013, then you are in!

All you need to do is spare a few minutes register your club or organization as per this video and we'll be in touch via email with all the details.

All you need to tell us is how many people swam and how much you raised plus a few details about when and where your event took place - that's it.

Within minutes of reading this you and your club could be part of the world's biggest 1 day annual fundraising swim - how about that for a healthy way to start the New Year!

48 days to go - 50 clubs entered milestone!

Great way to end the first week of the New Year with the news that we now have 50 clubs registered on the website. No less that Rotary Club of Cairns Sunrise District 9550 home club of my good friend Susanne Rea , who I may have mentioned once or twice before for her outstanding contribution to getting the event on a world wide footing! - http://content.yudu.com/Library/A202tw/RotaryTodayDec/resources/50.htm


One final reminder, tommorow 7th January is the last day you can vote for our RGS ambassador in India Moin Junnedi http://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/vote-for-your-belgaumite-of-the-year-2012/14/ Please spare a moment to vote for him!

49 days to go - 49 clubs registered!

Many thanks to Amir Zonic and the members of the Rotaract Club of Tuzla 99 who've once again signed up to Rotary Global Swimarathon in 2013 becoming our 49th club and 15th country represented.

A reminder again with 2 days of voting remaining please do vote for Moin Junnedi our event ambassador in India who has been nominated by his home town of Belgaum for citizen of the year - here's the voting link http://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/vote-for-your-belgaumite-of-the-year-2012/

So as we close in on getting more than 50 clubs registered, just wanted to take a moment to look at all the new clubs who've joined us this year

1. Rotary Club of Sharon PA D7280, USA
2. Rotary Club of Eadaoin Waller D6910, USA
3. Rotary Club of Blaby Meridien D1070, England
4. Rotary Club of Ramgarh D3250, India
5. Rotary Club of Hamilton D9600, Australia
6. Rotaract Club of Cairo Sunrise D2450, Egypt
7. Rotary Club of South Queensferry D1020, Scotland
8. Rotary Club of Leigh , D1280, England
9. Rotary Club of Papamoa , D9930, New Zealand
10. Rotary Club of Murwillumbah Central D9640, Australia
11. Rotary Club of Los Olivos D5240, USA
12. Rotary Club of Swindon North, D1100, UK
13. Rotaract Club of Oberberg, D1810, Germany
14. Rotary Club of Salem Metropolois D2980, India
15. Rotary Club of Vectis Sunrise D1110, England
16. Rotary Club of Saranac Lake , D7040, USA

Just brilliant that around one third of all the clubs entered this year are new to the event, really shows how the word is spreading. We want it to continue to spread well beyond the limits of the english language.

That's why our website http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org has the capability to translate all its contents into 40 different languages - here's the video that explains how




Please, please help us by sharing this article with the clubs around the world you are connected with - with no language barriers, and the ability to stage the event at any time that suits your club on 23 February 2013, and the way you want to stage it - whether its 1 swimmer or 1000, lets all work together to make this a truly memorable shared global event that the world will take note of!

50 days to go - the District Challenge!

Hopefully most Rotary Clubs around the world are back in the swing of things after the holiday period and ready to get stuck into their projects. Yesterday I had the privilege of spreading the social media and Global Swimarathon message via an international webinar presentation using goto meeting to the Rotary Club of Omaha in Nebraska , just shows the amazing possibilities of linking up around the globe. Will be looking to get participating clubs together around the world nearer the time - watch this space!

Here's how I got on...




So really there's no better time to sign up to the world's biggest swim4peace with 50 days to go. Here's a quick update on the 14 countries and the number of clubs in them officially registered to take part.

1. England 14
2. USA 7
3.India 6
4. Australia 6
5.South Africa 4
6. Scotland 2
7.Ireland 2
8. New Zealand 2
9 = Wales, Germany, Spain, Egypt, Pakistan, Mexico 1

Please help your country move up the list -we are considering bringing back the same hour world record in 2014 and we may decide to offer the option to choose the time of day to the country which has the most clubs taking part!

Remember also that this year we have introduced a number of awards to be presented at the Rotary International Convention in Lisbon. There's an award for the club that raises the most money for End Polio Now, an award for the event with the most swimmers taking part and also there is an award for the District which has the most clubs taking part. So here's a look at the District "Chart" at the moment - all in all there are 32 Districts Represented which is fantastic out of a total of 48 entries. So there's plenty of opportunity to get more clubs interested in your district and get out in front!

1 = District 1070 9320, 9550 4 clubs
4 = District 3170, 7040 3 clubs
6 = District 1110 1160, 1280, 9930 2 clubs
10 = District 1010,1020,1030,1040,1100,1130,1180,1220,1810,2203,2450 ,2980,3140,3250,3272, 4160,5240,5340,6910,7280,9465,9600,9640 1 club


You can change the situation in an instant - just watch this video and register - takes minutes!

51 days to go -the global challenge!

First of all, a big welcome to our 2 new registrations received already in 2013. A brand new entrant is the Rotary Club of Vectis Sunrise in the Isle of Wight, many thanks to Adrian Brewer for completing the sign up, and completing the double of Isle of Wight and Isle of Man both being represented!! Many thanks to Betty McNerlin President of the Rotary Club of Limavady in Northern Ireland, for entering again and completing the set of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales all being represented in Rotary in Britain and Ireland

As ever though, the real magic comes with the genuinely global nature of our event and the ever expanding list of countries which are joining us.

These are the 23 countries (plus Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland - under United Kingdom and Tenerife under Spain) that took part in 2012 or are taking part in 2013. For those of you who aren't flag experts , pictured are

Australia, Argentina, Botswana, Bosnia Herzegovina Canada,China,Croatia,Egypt,France,Germany,India,Ireland,Kenya,Mexico,Moldova,
New Zealand, Pakistan,Phillipines,Romania,South Africa,Spain,UK and the USA

(One of the advantages of getting board games at Xmas and more particularly the flags of the world game!!)

It will be wonderful to see this picture of the flags grow over the next few weeks. Its great that out of the 47 clubs registered to date, they are from 33 different districts around the world which shows the potential for the event to keep growing and growing.

We want to cover every spare inch of this world map of interested and participating clubs!


View Rotary Global Swimarathon 2013 in a larger map

Please vote for RGS hero Moin Junnedi

For me, out of all the thousands of swimming stories, pictures, videos, articles that contributed to the extraordinary 2012 world record , this 1 minute of footage from the 2012 event truly represents the pure inspiration of that unforgettable day.



The video features 14 year old Moin Junnedi, who has lived his entire life with severe osteoporosis (brittle bones disease) and suffered over 200 fractures.

Moin is the youngest swimmer in India to take part in the National Paralympics and has also been recognised by the India Book of Records

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-sports/more-than-merely-olympics/article4175437.ece

http://www.indiabookofrecords.in/featured/youngest-swimmer-with-locomotive-disability

Moin swam at the Rotary Club of Belgaum event in India, which was also the largest event in terms of participation with 354 swimmers recorded for the world record. Just days before doctors advised Moin not to take part as he had suffered 4 fractures but Moin was so determined to swim.

The sheer human spirit and will of this young man is truly humbling. A few days ago I learned that Moin had been nominated by his home city of Belgaum as their citizen of the year To all our Rotary family and friends around the world, please would you spare a moment to vote for this extraordinary young man - I know it would mean the world to him.

I've put together this video which we'll try to share around all the social media channels

Thank you very much!

Happy New Year - please join the world's biggest swim!

Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year - welcome to 2013.

And welcome to global sign up January! There are just over 52 days to go until the 2nd annual Rotary Global Swimarathon takes on the 23 February 2013 - Rotary day

Of course we are delighted to have nearly 50 website registered club entries already, way up on this time last year, but right now we are poised to take the event to a completely new level.

Today we are reaching out to all of the countries, to all of the clubs, to all of the districts around the world who have yet to be inviovled, and asking this one simple question.

Do you know ANYONE who can swim at least 100 metres at any time during the day on 23 February 2013?

If the answer is yes, taking part could be as easy as this.

Step 1: Watch this 3 minute video then register a user ID and your club (rotary , rotaract or sporting group on our website.


Step 2: Get together sponsors to support End Polio Now and other local charities

Step 3: Book a lane at the local pool, or even just head for the local beach on the day and take part

When you register your club with a contact email address we'll send you regular updates and simply ask that you let us know how much was raised at your event, how many people took part and the distances swum, along with maybe a pic or two or even a video. All fundraising is collected and distributed through local channels.

So how does that sound on your New Years Resolution list. Of course with so many clubs returning after the World Record Breaking swim of 2012 there will be many big events being staged throughout those magical 24 hours, so even if its only a few people swimming together, just imagine how it will all add together.

Rotary are in over 200 countries, and we want as many as possible to be represented. Its not every day you get the chance to represent your country in an event of this scale.


View Rotary Global Swimarathon 2013 in a larger map

Please also take note of the events taking place already in your area or region - why not partner up with other rotary clubs who have organized an event - even if you are not the main organizer of the event, if you are a member of a club not yet on the list - then please spare a couple of minutes to register

http://goo.gl/maps/C40G5

Finally, don't let language be a barrier to taking part - as per this video the website now has a built in translation feature into 40 different languages

Look out for a blog entry for every single day as we count down to the big day. Together we can make this the biggest and most inclusive annual fundraising swimming event in the world. Your support will make that difference - thankyou!

Sharing Global Swim message with the whole world!

Hi everyone,
Well 2 and a half months to go now and momentum is building up very well for the 23 Feb 2013 event. Nearly 50 clubs signed up already, and many more about to confirm.

Here's a couple of videos I'd like to share with you. One is a video presentation on how social media can help your club, featuring Rotary Global Swimarathon story at its heart



And secondly , and this is just brilliant news from the point of view of reaching every corner of the globe , our website http:/www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.org now has the facility to translate all of the content into more than 40 different languages -here's the 2 minute video guide



Finally we want more clubs to sign up, remember it doesn't even have to be an organized event , could just be a few Rotarians and friends taking part in a public pool for a few sponsored laps on the day - so please watch this video on how to register and be part of this incredible global swim4peace. You'll get a welcome email within 24 hours with all the details. There is no official World Record Paperwork to worry about this time, all you have to do is email us the details of how many took part in your event and how much was raised - simple!

Rotary Global Swimarathon 2013 launch!

Well as they say time really does fly, can't believe the 30th March was the last post on this blog.

First let me bring you up to speed with all the exciting developments since then.
Last time I wrote we were hoping to break the $100,000 raised - we did that in style -some $105,287 the final worldwide total reported.

As for my Global Swimarathon recreation on my cruise holiday here you go

Part I



and Part II




I then went on to complete my own personal challenge for Rotary Global Swimarathon with a very icy dip up at Lake Windermere in the summer



from now on I'll leave the open water swimming to the experts Penny Palfrey and not forgetting Barbara Held who completed a double adding the English channel to her world record busting ocean swim in February!

Of course the summer time was incredibly exciting here in the UK with the Olympics and then Paralympics hosted in London. I was lucky enough to see rowing, Handball and best of all watch our very own team ambassadors - the Great Britain Women's Water Polo team in their first ever Olympic match - this is a fans eye view




We just about had time to catch our breath in between the Olympics and the Paralympics when on August 15th the news we'd all been waiting for came through - we were official Guinness World Record Holders!

Then to top it all we were shortlisted for and won the national UK Fundraising award for the best digital Facebook campaign

And so here we are in November, and sign ups for 2013 event are in full swing - we've updated and simplified the website we've added a detailed organization guide and we've contacted all the clubs that entered last year - we're hoping to pass 100 clubs signed up before the New Year. Plenty more updates to come, but the final word has to go to the world and our extraordinary 2012 event video Thankyou to everyone who made it such an incredible event, and thankyou for all your efforts towards 2013- hold on to your hats, we're just getting warmed up!!

Going the extra mile to End Polio Now!

Going an extra mile to say thankyou! Worldwide we have reached US$98,000 for @Endpolionow and I would dearly love to see us break $100,000 - here's your chance to help us get there - please sponsor me $1 - $10 if you can http://www.justgiving.com/paulwilsonrotary WORLD RECORD SMASHED!! To celebrate the phenomenal Global Swimarathon milestone of receiving official paperwork for 3303 swimmers which beats the existing world record (still more numbers to come in) and in recognition of the extraordinary dedication and efforts involved for people all over the globe to take part at very challenging hours of the day - here's my special plan During Global swimarathon at least 15 time zones around the world were represented - so swimmers took part at 0400-0500 - West Coast USA, 0600-0700 Central USA - 0700-0800 East Coast USA / Canada 0900-1000 South America, 1200-1300 UK / Canary Islands 1300-1400 - Europe 1400-1500 Eastern Europe/ Africa 1500-1600 - East Africa 1700-1800 Pakistan 1730-1830 - India 2000-2100 Phillipines / China, 2130-2230, 2200-2300, 2300-2400 Australia, 0100-0200 in New Zealand Now I've been thinking about how I can show my appreciation for all of you who were prepared to turn out especially at such late or early hours of the day, and here it is. I'm on a cruise holiday coming up in , with 24/7 access to a pool so...... On 1 day, I plan to swim 100 metres in each and every one of the 15 time zones I just listed out to complete a 1500 metres metric mile! Starting at 0400-0500 and going through till 0100am - naturally I will do all of this wearing my End Polio Now tshirt throughout, and will hopefully be able to get passengers on board involved, aware and supporting our cause. I'll try and capture it on video and share when I get back - wish me luck!! Finally please watch this video from our largest event where 354 swimmers took part in Belgaum India - be inspired!

Global Swimarathon day is here!

5 hours to go. 16 months ago, Global Swimarathon was just a far fetched dream. Today it is an inspiring reality.
Our 116th entry in a new country Mexico - 24th country represented, by Rotary Club of Erandi Zamora - lets take a look at that magical map - one more time .....

World Map of Global Swimarathon participants

Here's a very special moment - here are a group of kids who just swam at Rotary Club of Kurunda , D9550 Queensland Australia. Although they were unable to take part in the world record hour, they can all proudly say that they actually took part in the first official Global Swimarathon event any where in the world ever!!

So many amazing moments all happening at once.

But for me, right now, I would simply like to share with you what I believe may very well become THE iconic image of this incredible Global Event.

Please let me introduce you to Rajendra Anvekar and Moin Junedi who will be joining over 250 other registered swimmers (so far) at Rotary Club of Belgaum event in D3170 India.

BE INSPIRED!!

Best wishes and a world of thanks to everyone who will take part and support us today.

ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!!

Happy Rotary Day - 2 days to go!

2 days to go. 16 months ago, when our swimarathon chair Roger Graves first dreamed up this incredible event, this was the target date for the event Rotary Day in 2012 (then we realised it fell on a Thursday -not the best for multiple swimmers). As a very proud Rotary Global History Fellowship Board member for Zone 17 in the UK, and an ordinary club member, in fact just as a citizen of the world I'm very proud to celebrate our 107th anniversary today. The #rotaryendpolio message is spreading far and wide, from the fantastic BBC coverage to the iconic landmarks lighting up the sky.

It's brilliant to see so many Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, working hard on the social network forums to get our message out there.

Let me tell all of you who will be with us on Saturday that there is now no doubt that what we we will achieve together around the world will most definitely spread that message far and wide, it will most certainly become part of Rotary history, and we will rightfully claim our own unique piece of sporting history in the process. Seems particularly appropriate on this historic Rotary day to say a huge thankyou to fellow RGHF Executive and Board members, Nevine Abdelkhalek in Egypt, Prakash Sarasawat in India, Sajid Baseer Shaikh in Pakistan, Susanne Rea in Australia,  and Tim Tucker in the UK, lead magnificently by RGHF CEO Jack Selway in the USA , who have made a very significant contribution to spreading this event in their Districts as well as in many cases directly taking part and running events. Very very proud to be a member - would recommend it to anyone -http://www.rghf.org/join/index.htm

What's most extraordinary to me as we come into the final hours of preparation is just how every out there seems to be stepping up to a whole new level to bring their events together. Take our very latest prospective entry from the Rotary Club of Vancouver Washington , USA. They found out about Global Swimarathon very late in the day, got in touch and I explained that we need at least 25 swimmers for each event to be counted in the record and that in that part of the world its a 4am swim. You know what, even with only 3 swimmers confirmed and less than 40 hours to go - they are going for it anyway -The pool is booked for 4am , 3 of them will swim and be sponsored for the full hour if necessary, but they are going all out to get 25 even at that unearthly hour.

Great news stories coming in from every corner of the globe. In Egypt , Nevine confirmed tonight that they have 170 swimmers already confirmed - not only that - listed every single one out on the facebook group - just brilliant !! So that's 6.5% of the numbers we need in just 1 entry and its not even Friday here in the UK yet!

Spotted from over in Kenya, a full promotion for our event on Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation the number one news media channel in the country - take a look at this. Very well done to David Hastie and all the team at Rotary Nairobi.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=75119

Over in Cairns, Queensland , Australia, Susanne Rea has discovered a Zumba World Record has just been set there - so naturally she's marketing the Cairns Global Swimarathon event to the max as a chance to break 2 World Records in a week - pure genius.

Open Water Irish Swimming star Nuala Moore has got in touch today to say although she can't organize a group event, she will head out in to the 7 degree Irish sea and swim a solo kilometre for End Polio Now - now that is pure commitment!!

Over in the Isle of Man, President Peter Whiteway of the Rotary Club of Ramsey has been on Manx Radio www.manxradio.com/newsread.aspx?id=58124 telling them all about the event.

Current Paralympic Team GB star Claire Cashmore, in the midst of heavy training for Paralympic trials in April, has messaged everyone on twitter that even though she's doing a full 2 hour heart racing training session on the morning, she'll be at Knaresborough and will take part.

The final word for our fantastic , inspirational , magnificent UK ambassador Fran Williamson  from an interview she gave today and published on her blog http://www.fran-williamson.co.uk/3/post/2012/02/rotary-global-swim-interview.html

Her partner and managing agent Chris Whitaker will be joining us over the weekend, and will be our special guest social media monitor in the build up to and during the magical hour. 

We will be geared up to tweet and retweet, facebook post and share , receive email updates and through the dedicated phone line receive texts and calls , we're even setting up some skype sessions.

We'll try and collate an unofficial round the world figure on how many swimmers have taken part as soon as we can on the day, and we want to see those videos and pictures as soon as you can get them to us to share.

#RotaryDay is coming to a close, but we all know that for us the biggest pool party in the world yet to come - 

HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!