Les Bourgs Fundraising Administrator Liz Stonebridge said the £22,500 raised for the hospice is a welcome boost following an extremely difficult year for fundraising.
Pictured: The Sealey and Marley families were behind the idea for a winter sea swimming challenge.
“When we were approached with the idea, we knew straight away that it would appeal to the stalwarts who swim all-year but we had no idea that it would be this popular,” said Ms Stonebridge.
“It has been amazing to see so many people getting involved and there has been a real camaraderie at the different swimming spots.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who either embraced the concept so enthusiastically or sponsored someone if just the thought of getting in the sea was too much.”
Pictured: A sea swimming community has developed in the island and recent years that is said to be both close-knit, but also welcoming to newcomers.
The event’s success means it is set to become an annual winter fixture of Les Bourgs’ fundraising calendar. Anyone with feedback on the event is asked to email their views to ‘liz.stonebridge@lesbourgs.com’, with Ms Stonebridge hopeful that the surge in sea swimming locally can continue.
“Winter sea swimming has definitely risen in popularity this year so it has been great to see so many people optimising island life and what we have on our doorstep.”
Pictured top: Swimmers taking part in the festive challenge (Credit: Paul Mariess).