PHUKET: Laguna Phuket is harnessing the enthusiasm of triathletes in this year's Laguna Phuket Triathlon and Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship to launch its latest community initiative that will provide survival swim lessons for thousands of local youngsters.

Hundreds of triathletes registering for the two events are being asked to raise money through online sponsorships to help raise an estimated 600,000 baht required to set up and run the 12-month program.

Thai Public Health statistics show drowning as the highest cause of death for Thai children under the age of 15 and teaching children to be competent in deep water, with the ability to get to safety, is a major priority for coastal regions.

The Survival Swim Program is being developed with support from Cherngtalay Municipality, Phuket Lifeguard Club, Phuket International Academy's Thanyupura Sports and Leisure Club, Surf Lifesaving of Australia and Laguna Holiday Club.

It will teach more than 2600 children aged 12-15 years in Thalang District schools how to save themselves if they fall into deep water; and be staged on the beaches of Bang Tao, municipality swimming pools and Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club.

The Laguna Phuket Triathlon on November 27 and Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship on December 4 will draw hundreds of triathletes from around the world to Phuket, who are now being asked to arrange sponsorships at: www.lagunaphuket.com/CSR/athlete-sponsorship-programme.php

Triathletes - who face gruelling swims in the first leg of their triathlon challenges - are competent swimmers, aware of respect for water and the importance of this vital life skill.

Suthasinee Rukmit, Laguna Phuket's director of Community Relations, said: ''We're delighted that the many triathletes who come here to compete will be able to be part of a meaningful project that involves their chosen sport and also creates lasting benefits for local communities.''

The official launch of the Survival Swim Program is set to be the centerpiece of a week-long Tri-Fest staged at Laguna Phuket between the two back-to-back triathlons.

The new program follows an initial Survival Swim Course held earlier this year at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club, when members of Hong Kong Tritons triathlon club gave lessons to children from Laguna Phuket's school charity partner, Baan Jao Krua School in Phang Nga Province.

And the program's fund-raising was kicked-off in style recently when revellers at Laguna Phuket's Summer Family Festival closing party raised 14,000 baht in a raffle to win prizes at the resort's new Angsana Laguna Phuket hotel.