THE BUILD-up to a mass environmental event s going 'swimmingly', organisers say – after it signed up the World Wildlife Fund as a partner.

Conrad Humphreys, founder of the Blue Mile, which encourages people to complete one mile in, on or next to water, announced the partnership earlier this week alongside Sport Environment.

The announcement will mean that WWF will become the official charity partner of the event, which is being held this summer.

Organisers will work with the WWF and Sport Environment to raise awareness of the threats facing the world's oceans and the need to protect the seas.

Plymouth's Blue Mile is part of the run-up to the London Olympics 2012, and will feature thousands of city participants.

Monica Dolan, sponsored events manager at WWF-UK, said: "The Blue Mile is a fantastic opportunity to educate and inspire people to value our marine environment.

"The UK is blessed with 20,000km of coastline, and diverse marine life and habitats ranging from deep-sea corals to harbour porpoises.

"However, our seas are facing increasing pressures, and now, with the threat of climate change, it's more important than ever that we protect our marine biodiversity.

"By completing a Blue Mile businesses, schools, and individuals can show they care about our oceans and help raise crucial funding to support WWF's conservation projects."

Conrad, a Plymouth-based round-the-world sailor, added: "It's often said that sport is intimately connected to nature, and for some athletes it's the relationship with the environment that inspires and motivates them.

"One of the key aims of the Blue Mile is to encourage an active community who can respond and find ways to contribute to the health of our planet," he said.

"Our relationship with WWF will provide opportunities for everyone to form stronger links with our marine and natural environment."

The Blue Mile – Race for the Environment is the UK's first mass-participation event aimed at engaging people with the water, and is due to be held over the weekend of July 3 and 4 in and around the foreshore.

Hundreds of people have signed up for the event and more are being encouraged to do so.

The Blue Mile course, which will be managed by adventure sports company Endurance Life, will start at the historic Mayflower Steps and follow the waterfront around to West Hoe and the famous Chichester Finish Line, where arguably Britain's most distinguished sailor, Sir Francis Chichester, arrived at the end of his epic round-the-world voyage.

For full details visit www.thebluemile.org.