OLYMPIC swimming hero Duncan Goodhew has visited Darlington's Dolphin Centre to promote the 20th annual swimathon.
Goodhew, a gold medallist, joined four generations of the Elliott-Lyall family, who are all taking part in the charity event.
The family consists of great-granddad Wallace, 77, mother Susan, 52, daughters Emily and Lucy, 31 and 20, and granddaughter Jamie, eight.
Members of the family have taken part in the event every year since its launch.
Earlier this year, the event raised money for children's charity NCH - and the same charity will benefit when the swimathon is staged next year.
Vicki Hill, a child who was assisted by NCH, and Mary Slater - an 81-year-old who has competed in every swimathon - were also on hand to encourage more people to take part.
Craig Murray, who has taken part in the event for 15 years, and organised it for ten, said: "We want a lot of people to take part next year."
Swimathon 2006 will take place from March 23 to 26.
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