Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim makes splash for research

More than 1,200 swimmers took to the English Channel on Saturday 29^th June, to raise an incredible £288,000 for our lifesaving research through this year’s Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim.

The determined participants zipped up their wetsuits and snapped on their goggles to swim the 1.4 miles between Bournemouth and Boscombe Pier to help us fund ground-breaking research into new treatments and cures for heart and circulatory diseases.

Our swim is one of the largest open water swimming events in Europe and saw swimmers from a variety of ages, backgrounds and swimming experience, make a splash in Bournemouth for the event’s 33^rd year.

Fruitful sponsors

Our sponsors, JAZZ™ Apples, made sure they were at the core of the event with their new addition to Bournemouth beach, their giant apple buoy.

The team from JAZZ™ Apples were also on hand to cheer swimmers over the finish line. They handed out goody bags packed with delicious, tangy-sweet JAZZ™ Apples and a finisher’s t-shirt for participants in need of a refreshing lift.

Alistair’s incentive for swimming

Many participants had emotive reasons for taking part, such as Alistair Dunscombe, 37, who was swimming for the eighth year in memory of his best friend Paul Stephens.

Tragically, Paul died from a shock heart attack after his 31^st birthday celebrations – an age he sadly never got to reach.

Having had no known prior heart conditions, the 30-year old’s passing was unexpected and took a great toll on his family and friends. Alistair said: “Doing the event is my way of remembering Paul and channelling the grief of losing my best friend. I let it all out there in the sea. It’s my time to think about him, to reflect and be emotional.

“Every year we have a ritual of going down to the beach in the morning and watching the BHF flags go up. Seeing them prepare for the swim helps us prepare. The BHF and the swim help me honour Paul’s life and our friendship.

“I vow to do this event for as many years as I am physically able to. As soon as the event places open, I sign up immediately. I’m so inspired by the 70 and 80-year-olds who do it, and I always think I want to be doing it at that age too.”

A thank you from us

Kate Sparks, our Senior Events Manager said: “It was fantastic to see the passion and determination of our swimmers on Saturday. Every stroke 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 to take the plunge, 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.”

Since it was first held in 1992, more than 34,000 people have taken part in the BHF swim helping to raise around £4 million for research into heart and circulatory conditions.