Swim 10K in June

I’ve just signed up – now what?

The next step is to join the Swim 10K in June Facebook Group. Once you’re in, you can register for your free swimming cap, set up your fundraiser, meet your fellow swimmers and find out anything else you’d like to know about the challenge.

How do I fundraise?

Creating a Facebook fundraiser is the quickest and easiest way to raise money. Once you register for the challenge above, a Facebook fundraiser will be set up for you.

Want to create a JustGiving page instead? Head to the JustGiving website to set up your fundraising page.

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

Is there a registration fee?

Taking part in the Swim 10K in June challenge for Dementia UK is free!

Is there a fundraising target?

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

How can I send in sponsorship money I’ve collected offline?

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 swimming cap, and an explanation that you raised the money for the Swim 10K in June 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

Can I raise money without setting up an online fundraising page?

You certainly can. We’ll send you a sponsorship form with your swimming cap, but if you 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.

Where do donations to my Facebook fundraiser or JustGiving page go?

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

What if I set up two Facebook fundraisers by mistake?

If you have started two Facebook fundraisers, don’t worry: you can check and edit them here. You can then close the one you no longer need, which will focus your fundraising onto one page.

What happens if donations don’t appear on my Facebook fundraiser straight away?

Normally, if donations don’t appear on your fundraising page immediately, they will within 48 hours. However, if your donation hasn’t appeared after this time there are a few different possibilities:

• Donations from other countries can take a lot longer to come through to Facebook and then to Dementia UK. This could take as long as several weeks
• The donation didn’t go through. Please ask your donor to check if the money has left their account
• PayPal takes up to three days to register to your Facebook fundraiser
• Your sponsor didn’t donate to your fundraising page but instead clicked the ‘Donate now’ button which links directly to Dementia UK. Ask your sponsor to check the receipt they were emailed directly from Facebook – this will say whether they donated to your Facebook fundraiser, or straight to Dementia UK

If the problem persists, please email  virtualevents@dementiauk.org so we can investigate further.

How do I get my free Dementia UK swimming cap?

Please complete our registration form with your details, if you haven’t already. It will take up to two weeks for your swimming cap to arrive.

I still haven’t received my swimming cap – where is it?

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

Can I get more than one swimming cap for the challenge?

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

Where and how can I complete my kilometres?

You can complete your kilometres wherever you like, however you like – whether that’s at the local pool or at a swimming pond, lake, river, lido or beach. Just make sure you consider any necessary safety precautions and keep your sponsors up to date on your progress.

How do I record how many kilometres I have covered?

Strava is a free, easy to use app that can track your kilometres throughout June. You can find out more about tracking your swims with Strava here. You will also receive a Swim 10K in June tracker with your swimming cap, which you can use to tick off your kilometres. If you have an exercise watch, you may be able to use it to track your distance.

Can I start early or late?

Of course! Our Facebook Group is active in June, 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 can receive the life-changing support of our specialist dementia nurses.

How can I take on the challenge safely?

Safety should always be your top priority when heading out for a swim, whether you’re a seasoned swimmer or you’re making a splash for the first time. Be sure to familarise yourself with the Water Safety Code before you swim.

What if I don’t complete the challenge?

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.