Kendal-based charity the Lake District Foundation (LDF) has launched a winning new campaign, to celebrate a summer of sport.

They are joined by record-breaking swimmer, Hector Pardoe, who set a World Record for swimming the length of Windermere last September.

As an ambassador for the LDF, Pardoe, used the heroic swim as an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges facing the lake and raised nearly £1500 for the charity.

 The Foundation recently launched a campaign called ‘Going for Gold with Hector’, which celebrates Pardoe’s next endeavour at the 2024 Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old will compete in the men’s 10km Marathon Swim in Paris on Friday August 9. The race will start at 6:30am at the Pont Alexandre III in the iconic River Seine.

Over the next two weeks, LDF aims to raise money for their Cleaner Lakes campaign, which will help fund projects like the Big Windermere Survey, a pioneering Citizen Science project that offers an in-depth view of the life of the lake.

There are three different ways for people to get involved and join in with supporting ‘Team Hector’.

Have a go at guessing Hector’s finish time, which is likely to be around 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on course conditions and the weather on the day.

The winner will receive a huge bundle of prizes including kit signed by Pardoe, entry to the Great North Swim, a Windermere Lake Cruises ‘Freedom of the Lake’ family ticket and a subscription to Outdoor Swimmer magazine.

Supporters inspired by Pardoe’s athleticism can take on their own sponsored challenge and do ‘10 with Hector’. Whether it is running 10km or summitting 10 Wainwrights, anyone can get involved.

There will also be a watch party, hosted by the Wateredge Inn at Ambleside where Pardoe’s marathon will be shown. Swimming fans are invited to enjoy breakfast together and watch the big race.

Lake District Foundation Deputy CEO Sarah Halliwell said: “While preparing for the race of his life, Hector Pardoe came to us with the idea of creating a summer campaign to support our Cleaner Lakes projects.

“Hector is an incredible athlete, but he’s also a brilliant advocate for our environment and a true lover of the Lake District. Which is why we’ll be enormously proud of him, regardless of what happens on race day.

“All that said, he has a decent shot at the gold medal, so you won’t want to miss our watch party on 9th August. We hope Hector will inspire everyone to raise funds to protect this magnificent part of the planet.”

Find out more about the campaign at lakedistrictfoundation.org/team-hector