MORE than 1,300 swimmers took to the sea to help fund lifesaving research for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in the Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim 2023.
This year’s swim, sponsored by JAZZ™ Apples, took place on Saturday 1st of July and the determined participants zipped up their wetsuits to swim the 1.4 miles between Bournemouth and Boscombe Pier.
They raised an incredible £200,000 to help the charity fund ground-breaking research into new treatments and cures for heart and circulatory diseases.
Over the weekend, swimmers from a variety of ages and backgrounds took to the waters for the event’s 32nd year.
Many participants had emotive reasons for taking part, such as Sarah Foreland who was swimming in memory of her Father-in-law.
Tragically, Sarah’s father-in-law John suffered a cardiac arrest on her wedding day. He was taken to hospital and sadly died two days later.
Sarah said:
“It was a very difficult time. John was such a big part of everyone’s life. John was my inspiration for taking on this year’s swim. We’d planned on taking part in the Bournemouth Pier to Pier before the pandemic. Unfortunately, we never got to do it together, so I wanted to honour him by doing it this year in his name.
“BHF’s Pier to Pier is a great swimming event and it’s important to me and the family to raise money for the BHF as well as awareness of these heart conditions.”
Incredible BHF volunteers helped to make the event a success by encouraging swimmers around the course. A team from JAZZ™ Apples were also on hand to cheer swimmers over the finish line and hand out goody bags packed with delicious, tangy-sweet JAZZ™ Apples and a finisher’s t-shirt for participants in need of a refreshing lift.
Since it was first held in 1992, more than 33,000 people have taken part in the BHF swim helping to raise more than £3.6m for research into heart and circulatory conditions.
Roisin Greenup, Senior Events Manager at the BHF, added:
“It was fantastic to see the passion and determination of our swimmers on Saturday. Every stoke they have taken helps to fund lifesaving research and without their commitment, we wouldn’t be able to help revolutionise treatments and transform the lives of millions of people in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases.
“For those who are feeling inspired, entries are now open for next year’s Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim, so we’d urge everyone to sign up now to help us fund vital research to save and improve more lives.”
A JAZZ™ apple spokesperson said:
“It was fantastic to partner with the BHF for their Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim and see so many inspirational swimmers on the day taking part to raise much-needed funds for their research. We’re huge promoters of the importance of a healthy, balanced diet and believe sport and physical exercise are vital for a strong mind, body and soul so our brand’s core values align perfectly with those of the BHF. To greet the swimmers as they crossed the finish line with a JAZZ™ apple goody bag and see so many participants biting in to a refreshing JAZZ™ apple after the race was fantastic for the brand and the event was great to be involved in.”
To find out more about taking part in an event for the British Heart Foundation, please visit: www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/events.
