MARIE Curie Cancer Care are inviting people to sign up for a healthy New Year Swimathon to raise funds for the charity.

The Swimathon 2007 Get In and Swim will include a 5km swim at the event on March 22 to 25. At the moment they have six swimming pools signed up including Truro Leisure Centre, China Fleet Country Club, Polkyth Leisure Centre, Saltash Leisure Centre, Waterworld in Newquay and Penzance Leisure Centre.

Lynda Thomas, Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraiser, said: "Many people set themselves health goals in the new year. Swimathon 2007 is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the Truro area to fulfil their resolutions whilst raising much needed funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care services in the local community."

Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew, who has supported Swimathon since it started 21 years ago, said: "Swimming is both the nation's most popular participation sport and one of the government's targeted sport to reduce obesity. Swimathon 2007 is making swimming accessible to everyone in the Truro and surrounding area and we want to challenge people to help us break all records this year to make it the biggest Swimathon fundraiser ever."

Swimathon is open to anyone and people can either take part in the 5kn challenge, the 2.5km challenge or the 1.5km challenge.

Registration is open now at www.swimathon.org where information is available on the participating pools, fundraising and training tips. Alternatively people can register by calling 0845 36 700 36. Standard registration is £8.50.