Take the plunge – swim for Acorns this summer
Take on an energising open water swim, head to your local pool, or even make the most of a holiday dip – you can complete this challenge your way. Whether you’re swimming solo, with your family, or as part of a team, every length counts to help ensure local children with life limiting conditions receive the vital care and support they deserve. You’ll have two months this summer to dive in and make a difference.
Choose your preferred distance, pick your place and a time that suits you between 1 July – 31 August. All to raise money and change lives with Acorns.
How to sign up
1. Register online and receive your digital fundraising pack.
2. Choose your distance and decide where you / your team will be completing your lengths.
3. Share your fundraising page. Every pound raised will support children with short lives across the West Midlands.
4. Complete the swim challenge throughout July and August and make waves for children with short lives.
Choose your distance
Pick the distance that works for you. You’ll receive digital badges to celebrate as you log your lengths.
1km
The Mini Acorns challenge.
Junior challenge.
40 lengths of a 25m pool.
3km
The Three Acorns challenge.
1km for each of our three hospices.
120 lengths of a 25m pool.
17km
The Hospice Hopper challenge.
Swim the distance between our hospices in Walsall and Selly Oak.
680 lengths of a 25m pool.
51km
The Hospice Triple challenge.
Swim the distance between all three of our hospices
(ideal for a team challenge).
2,040 lengths of a 25m pool.
Break each distance down, to check it’s achievable for you! For example in the 3km challenge: 120 lengths divided by the 8 weeks of the challenge is 15 lengths a week.
Why take on the Big Summer Swim challenge?
The children at Acorns really enjoy our specialist hydrotherapy pools, which allows for ease of movement that many struggle with on dry land. This is through our hydrotherapy sessions, which in basic terms is therapy in the water.
“Jack is happiest when he’s in the water at Acorns. The water gives him freedom, where he is not in pain. It makes a huge difference to Jack”
– Catherine, Jack’s Mum
We provide over 550 hours of hydrotherapy each year to children and young people visiting our hospices. Your fundraising means more children will be able to enjoy the freedom of movement.
What’s included when you register?
- An online fundraising page
- A challenge certificate
- A physical swim tracker to log each distance you achieve. You can also log this online
- A digital badge for completing your distances
- An Acorns t-shirt
- A physical sponsorship form to share with friends and family
Physical materials will be shared from mid June 2026.
Fundraising
There’s no minimum sponsorship target to take part in this event, however we do ask for everyone to raise as much as they can. There’s no donation too big or small, and every penny makes a difference to local children and families.
We would love you to fundraise as you swim and we have some great incentives on offer:
- Make waves by raising £138 and we’ll send you a limited-edition Acorns swim cap*
- Keep the current going by raising £200 and receive a swim cap* and an Acorns pin badge
- Make a real splash by raising over £250 and you’ll receive all the above plus a special Acorns medal
*Swim caps are available for the first 150 to raise £138.
When the challenge wraps up on 1 September we’ll dive into the totals and begin sending out your well-earned goodies.
We’re here to support you all the way! By signing up for the challenge you will receive support from our Events team to help with your fundraising and the amazing feeling you’ll get from knowing you’re making a real difference to local children! If you need more support we’d be happy to help, just get in touch at events@acorns.org.uk.