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"You're Mad": Swimming Challenge Underway To Regenerate East Cowes Seafront

David Hill, Shrape Swimmer

A group of eight casual swimmers are attempting to swim the equivalent distance around the Isle of Wight - to raise funds for a seafront regeneration project.

The Shrape Swimmers in East Cowes will do laps up and down the beach -  in a bid to raise money to improve the surrounding area and “sort out” the landslip - which is the second one in six years.

So far the group, whose oldest member is 80, have technically reached Gurnard and they are expecting the challenge to last until the summer.

It all initially started with East Cowes resident David Hill swimming in the sea once or twice a week -  over time more and more locals joined in.

Now they have become the Shrape Swimmers - and meet up every day to embrace the elements at high tide and top up their mileage.

David says it is “more than just cold swimming” it is about sharing life stories, friendship, companionship and “embracing the seafront”.

He told Isle of Wight Radio:

“We need to bring our seafront home to the people of East Cowes and our Island and of course our visitors that come to us every year. At the moment it is in a very sorry state as there are railings there and of course the landscape. We want the people of East Cowes and our Island to have some pride back to where we live - of course, we love where we live and we really need people to be supportive.

“We really need the community behind us and the Island community, so far we have raised £210 which is roughly the price of two gabions - so we are two gabions up - but we would really like to raise more.

“It’s funny as well - the locals that walk past us and call out “You’re mad!”

Liz, who is part of the Shrape Swimming group that is “passionate” about giving something back to the community, said:

“Having enjoyed swimming all my life it is only now in my mid- 70s I have found a group of lovely people in East Cowes who to share the joy. I have always longed to try and swim all year round and now, at last, it is happening thanks to the Shrape swimmers.”

You can sponsor the Shrape swimmers here.

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