By Leicester Mercury | Posted July 28, 2012
An £8 million leisure centre will open with a splash on Monday when youngsters attempt to swim a distance equivalent to crossing the English Channel twice.
Six boys and six girls from the Leicester Neptune swimming club will each swim 5,633 metres in the 25m, six-lane swimming pool at De Montfort University's leisure centre in the West End. The children, aged 10 to 16, will be raising money for LOROS hospice
Club spokesman Mark O'Malley said: "We're very pleased to be involved in the opening of the leisure centre. All of the swimmers are training hard in the run-up to the event and are really looking forward to it."
The complex has been named The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee leisure centre, following the royal visit in March, which included the university. It will be open to the public, students and staff for free taster sessions and tours until Sunday, August 12, as part of the university's Olympic celebrations.
People can take up memberships from August 13.
Professor Dominic Shellard, vice-chancellor of De Montfort University, said the swim on Monday would be a great way to mark the opening.
Prof Shellard said: "This leisure centre is fantastic and what a wonderful way to mark its opening, having children from a local swimming club making a big splash and raising money for LOROS."
To sponsor the Leicester Neptune swimmers, visit: http://www.justgiving.com/ Leicesterneptune1
