Britannia Leatherbarrows gave their support to the annual Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim on Sunday 13 July in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

The event is now in its 24th year and is the biggest charity swim in Europe with 2000 people taking part raising over £150,000 for the charity. 

Leatherbarrows’ member, David Bigglestone - who underwent a triple heart bypass 10 years ago - took part for his fourth consecutive year, completing the challenge in under 45 minutes.

The Leatherbarrows’ team not only supported David but also helped at the event by supplying a van and two employees, Andy Pitwood and Lewis Mills, to look after the swimmers’ belongings and transport them between the piers.

Swimmers set off from Bournemouth Pier at 10.00 a.m. braving the open sea and massive jelly fish and swam along the coast to Boscombe Pier, a distance of 1.4 miles.

Every year people of all ages and abilities take part in the event, proving that a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit can be fun. Everyone who completed the swim received a souvenir medal and the money raised will fund essential research into heart disease, the single biggest killer in the UK.

Photo: Andy Pitwood, David Bigglestone, Lewis Mills.