Brave swimmers braced for 52nd Christmas dip
PLANS are well underway for one of the UK’s largest Christmas Day sea swims.
This year marks the 52nd event in the history of the Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim and organisers are hoping for a record number of swimmers to take part and raise money for Welsh children’s cancer charity Latch and other local charities.
Following last year’s successful record charity event – when more than 900 swimmers took a dip at Porthcawl’s Sandy Bay – organisers have decided this year’s theme for those who swim in fancy dress will be All Things Christmas.
Spokeswoman Marilyn Smith said: “Some friends of the swim travel home for Christmas, so we get swimmers and spectators from all over the UK and abroad too, last year we had visitors from New Zealand, Canada and Germany besides those who come from the South Wales area, all to enjoy a festive morning at Sandy Bay Porthcawl.
“The arrangements on the morning will follow last year’s changes in that as swimmers register, they will receive their commemorative mug before the swim.
“Therefore, whether they have registered online or on the morning they must come to the registration desk from 10.30am onwards.
“Swimmers will leave the Hi-Tide Inn, Mackworth Road, and gather at the top of the beach for the start at 11.45am.
“We are planning to have the start arch (weather permitting) erected on the beach so that every swimmer will file through in a similar way to last year and at other large events.
“Porthcawl Coastguard will signal the start and veteran swimmers Vic Davies and Chris Hughes, both from Porthcawl and the only two swimmers that have taken part in all of the previous swims, will lead the swimmers down the beach through the spectators.
“Running up to Christmas our small committee have to work tirelessly to raise enough money to fund the cost of the swim, the souvenir programmes and the much sought-after swim mugs.”
Chairman Dave King said: “This year the swim committee have chosen to donate money collected at the swim and via swimmers’ sponsorship to Latch, who work with so much love and devotion for children with cancer.
“As in previous years we will also support other local organisations.
“A total of £8,400 was donated after the 51st swim last year, so with people’s help maybe we can exceed this amount.
“Our promise is to give every penny that is collected on Christmas morning via the bucket collection and through swimmer’s sponsorship to our chosen beneficiaries.
“Our sponsorship forms are available from our website – www.christmasswim.org – or at the Town Council Offices, Jane’s Cards John Street and Porthcawl Library.”