DANCING on Ice star Mollie Pearce has swapped her skates for swimwear to join 360 swimmers taking part in the annual Padstow to Rock Swim, raising vital funds for Marie Curie.
Last year, the event, which has been running since 1970, reached a million-pound milestone of funds for Marie Curie since 2011. This year, swimmers once again braved the waters to swim one mile across the Camel Estuary from Padstow to Rock in aid of the end of life charity – including Mollie and her brother Samuel.
Mollie, who has supported Marie Curie since 2024, took part in the non-elite swimmer race on Friday August 8 and said: “I’ve learnt so much about Marie Curie’s work since first joining the Purchase for Nurses campaign with Superdrug last year.
“Getting a better understanding of the care and support they offer to not just their patients, but their loved ones too – what the charity does, including its Information and Support services, research and campaigning work, as well as their much loved nurses – is something I’ve found really valuable.
“Getting the right end of life care isn’t just important to those dying, but to the people left behind, like their children and grandchildren, and I wasn’t aware of how urgent the need is for better end of life care.
“That’s why I decided to join the Padstow to Rock swim – to raise awareness of what Marie Curie does and help do my bit by fundraising as part of the event.
“It’s been so great to join all of the other swimmers today and get such a warm welcome from volunteers and supporters.”
Gill Vivian, Padstow to Rock Swim Committee co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted to be back again this year and to be joined by all our swimmers, including Mollie.
“I’m incredibly proud of the amount of money we’ve raised for Marie Curie over the years and I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve that – from our generous sponsors to all the swimmers and people who have donated.”
Marie Curie supports people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, and advanced cancer. The charity provides expert care and support in people’s homes, in its hospices and over the phone via its free Information & Support helpline which is there for anyone who is affected by dying, death and bereavement.
Lynda Thomas is a former Marie Curie community fundraiser in Cornwall who has continued to volunteer with the swim committee since her retirement. She said: “Being able to continue to support with this well organised and successful event after retirement has been a delight.
“Thank you to the swim committee and Marie Curie for their continued support for the event, and thank you to all sponsors, organisations, volunteers and swimmers who have supported the day and fundraised to ensure we can continue to provide care and support to dying people, and their loved ones.”
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