Ms Raines’s sponsored sea swim

Ms Raines, Prep activity teacher, is participating in this summer’s Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim, which is 1.4 miles and raises money for the British Heart Foundation.

Ms Raines had a big challenge getting used to swimming in the sea after an early cold-water shock experience left her with some fears to overcome. Having been a competitive pool swimmer since childhood, Ms Raines ventured into the sea in 2015 and entered several sea race events. This will be Ms Raines’s first event without a wetsuit.

Ms Raines said: “During 2020 I abandoned my wetsuit to sea swim the whole year in ‘skins’ (just a costume, hat and goggles). The cold is the least of my worries with jellyfish and seaweed being more of a concern to me!

“I stumbled across an advert for the Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim.  This seemed like the perfect opportunity to enter and swim my first skins race with the added challenge of it being away from the comfort of the Cornish coast and swim companions I am used to. I am fortunate to have my health so the opportunity for this personal challenge, alongside the one to raise money for The British Heart Foundation, was one I could not pass up.”

As the weather improves Ms Raines will return to swimming further distances to increase her fitness and to ensure that she can tolerate the cold for the duration of the event.  As the lifting of lockdown occurs and pools re-open, there will be 6.00am training sessions to rebuild her swimming fitness.

If you would like to sponsor Ms Raines, visit her justgiving page. Thank you in advance for your support.

3 July 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the charity swim. You can find out more about the charity event here.