Dewsbury’s Rixonway Kitchens will be making a big splash for charity as a team of employees take part in the annual Marie Curie Cancer Care swimathon on 16th and 17th April at Wetherby swimming pool.

The team, who’ll be swimming a total of 10,000 metres, are hoping to raise over £1,000 for the charity which was selected by Rixonway’s Commercial Director, Julian Dudley after losing his father to cancer 18 months ago.

Julian Dudley said: “The hospice network provided my father with the highest level of care and supported my family during the last few weeks of his life and until then I had no idea how reliant they are upon charity fund raising – I’m delighted to finally have my opportunity to give something back to say thank you on behalf of my father and my family.

“Swimming has always been a major part of my family’s life - my father was an international swimmer in his heyday and my children and I spend a lot of time in our local pool. The Marie Curie Swimathon is a great way to raise additional funding for the charity and something my father would certainly be proud of.”

Joining Julian in Rixonway’s 2010 Swimathon team is David Parsons, Planning Manager; Carol Madeley, Sales Office Manager and David Balfour, Finance Manager who aim to complete the swim in one and a half hours

Paul Rose, Chief Executive of Rixonway Kitchens, said: “Rixonway is committed to giving something back to the communities it works in. We are proud of our employee fundraising teams and have pledged our support to both the swimmers in April and future charity events including the 2010 CAC Irish Cycling Challenge in September.”

Rixonway also recently worked with contractor Mears to jointly donate £500 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital chosen by the resident receiving the 500th kitchen installation in a recent refurbishment programme.