November Swimming Challenge

We’re challenging you to swim either 5k, 10k or 15k in November! This is a virtual event, so you can take it on wherever and whenever works best for you. You can split your distance evenly throughout the month or do some longer swims.

In the run-up to the challenge and during November, you’ll be able to connect with thousands of other swimmers in our Facebook Group and feel an amazing sense of achievement when you hit your distance at the end of the month.

You can read more about the challenge in our virtual fundraising pack here.

The first step is to register for your free Dementia UK swim cap and set up a fundraising page. You can do that here.

Next, join the November Swim Challenge Facebook Group. Once you’re in, you can meet your fellow swimmers and find out anything else you’d like to know about the challenge.

You’ll then be ready to go! Get some practice swims in and plan your schedule so you’re prepared for your challenge when Sunday 1st November 2026 comes around.

Taking part in the November Swim Challenge for Dementia UK is free!

There is no fundraising target for this challenge – we just ask you to raise as much as you can for families affected by dementia.

The easiest way to send cash donations to Dementia UK is by donating to your online fundraising page. Alternatively, you can:

• Donate via our website
• Send in a cheque made payable to Dementia UK. Enclose a note including your full name, the email address that you used to register for your swim cap, and an explanation that you raised the money for the November Swim Challenge. Post it to us at:

Dementia UK

7th Floor

One Aldgate

London

EC3N 1RE

• Make a bank transfer: please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org for our bank details
• Make a payment by phone by calling 0300 365 5500

Creating a Dementia UK fundraiser is the quickest and easiest way to raise money. You can set one up and register for the challenge in a few seconds by following this link.

Once you have created a fundraising page, be sure to share it with your family and friends and family via social media, text, email and WhatsApp.

You certainly can. We’ll send you a sponsorship form with your swim cap, but if you want to get started straightaway or need more than one form, simply download and print more copies.

Please ask your sponsors to fill out all the columns so we can claim up to 25% Gift Aid.

All donations made to your fundraiser will be sent directly to Dementia UK. These vital donations will help support families facing dementia.

To register for your swim cap, please complete the registration form here. It will take up to two weeks for your swim cap to arrive, so please be patient.

We’re sorry to hear you haven’t received your swim cap yet. If you have waited two weeks since completing the registration form, please email virtualevents@dementiauk.org and we will investigate.

We send out one swim cap per participant. If you would like to buy some additional Dementia UK branded items, please visit our shop.

You can complete your distance wherever you like, however you like! Speak to your local pools, lidos or outdoor swimming venues about your challenge. Once you start, make sure you record your swims and keep your sponsors updated on your progress.

Strava is a free, easy-to-use app that can track your kilometres throughout November. We highly recommend downloading it for this challenge. You will also receive a November Swim Challenge tracker with your swim cap, which you can use to tick off your kilometres.

Of course! Our Facebook Group is active in November, when the majority of people are likely to take part, but you can do this challenge whenever is best for you. The more participants we have, the more families will receive the life-changing support of our specialist dementia nurses.

Absolutely. This is your challenge, and you can tailor it to suit you. Just be clear with your supporters about how far you are intending to go and keep them updated regularly with your progress.

Safety should be your top priority when taking part in the November Swim Challenge. You know yourself best and we encourage you to think about the distance you swim at one time. If you are swimming outdoors, make sure someone goes with you, always carry a fully charged phone with you, and please do stay alert. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the Water Safety Code before you swim. We’d also advise taking rest days whenever you feel you need them.

The only thing that matters is that you challenge yourself and enjoy raising awareness and funds so our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses can support more families. Do as much as you can. Update your sponsors regularly, be clear about how far you’ve come in your challenge and make sure they are still happy to donate to Dementia UK.