Slough swimming teacher takes on 45km Swimathon challenge for charity

A swimming teacher from Slough is preparing to complete a gruelling 45km fundraising swim in a single day to raise money for charity.

Hayley Moore, 38, will attempt the challenge on March 20 at The Centre as part of the annual Swimathon.

Hayley, who teaches one-to-one swimming lessons at the leisure centre, is raising funds for Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK.

The long-distance swimmer plans to complete nine consecutive 5km swims – known as the ‘triple-triple 5k’ challenge – taking only short breaks between each stint to eat and drink.

She first entered the Swimathon in 2005, and what began as a personal challenge to complete the individual 5km swim soon became a mission to beat her own time every year.

Hayley said: “The Swimathon has always been one of my long-distance challenges of the year to look forward to and offers the chance to swim for a long time in one go – my favourite kind of swimming.

“I started doing the individual 5km each year, then when Swimathon introduced the triple 5km, I jumped at the chance to swim it all at the London Aquatics Centre in one day in 2019.

“It was a great experience swimming with everyone and having the whole Olympic pool just for the Swimathon, especially as it is the pool of champions.”

The Swimathon, now in its 40th year, takes place across around 450 pools across the UK between March 20 and 22.

Hayley began swimming at age 3 and joined her first swimming club at 10 and says that the water ‘has always been one of her happy places’.

She added: “I've always loved long-distance swimming, but I’ve never swum quite this far in one sitting, so it will be a challenge for me. I’ve done long swims in open water, but at least I won't have to worry about getting too cold for this one!

“The thing that draws me to long distance is the flow once you start. There is nothing like it when the breathing feels like normal breathing, you get into a rhythm and just keep going and going.”

Hayley has been inspiring swimmers of all ages as a teacher for 20 years, joining The Centre when it opened in 2019.

She said she hopes her challenge will inspire her students and the wider community to enjoy swimming.

“My students are all different ages, levels and abilities with brilliant, unique personalities, and I'm so glad I can help them in different ways," said Hayley.

"My aim is always to help students love the water just as much as I do. It is an important life skill and one of the best activities you can do for your body and health."

Outside of teaching, Hayley regularly trains with her swimming club and competes in Masters events.

Louise Hipgrave, general manager at The Centre, said staff and swimmers will be cheering her on during the challenge.

“Hayley has always been an inspirational swimming teacher at The Centre to students of all ages and abilities," she added.

"We’re so proud of her wonderful achievements and how she continues to push herself in the water to keep active – we’re rooting for you Hayley!”

Hayley hopes to complete the challenge in under 12 hours of swimming time.

“I like to push myself to try longer and longer swims, and it is for a great cause. I’m looking forward to the counting lengths, singing to myself and the thinking time,” she added.

“I also really hope that my goggle marks from this swim disappear in time overnight, so I don’t scare the kids I’ll be teaching the next morning!”