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Join Us for the Second South West Swim Big Charity Day!

Saturday 30th August - Lake 86 - 9:30am Start

We’re excited to invite all our squad swimmers, 1-to-1 athletes, and workshop attendees to the second South West Swim Big Charity Day at Lake 86!

This is a relaxed and social day by the lake, starting with a mass-start swim at 9:30am (if you wish to of course), followed by a picnic or BBQ and time to catch up with your fellow swimmers, and meet new swimmers trading stories of this seasons events and training. Whether you want to swim, paddleboard, or simply relax and enjoy the company, we will have a great day.

What to Expect:

Swim / Dip (around 9:30am onwards)
We will be starting off with a little social dip, or full training swim if you're still in training for an event.  Some of the long distance swimmers will likely be in the water already and have swum multiple laps by this point.  Swim for as long or as short as you like, but please note this is not a coached or supported swim.  Non members of Lake86 will need to book in for a PAYG swim session with the lake directly.

Charity Coached Session - Sighting (10am)
I will be running a short sighting workshop at 10am, with all proceeds going to our charity partner (see below). This fully coached session will be 50-60minutes long with a minimum donation of £20, and a maximum donation to what a sum whatever you feel the session is worth or wish to give. You must be a member of the lake or book in using one of your PAYG sessions to join this coached session, this session is for swimmers aged 18 and over and you must be able to swim 200m non stop front crawl as a minimum. A wetsuit is required.  

You can book onto this session HERE, it will be marked as £0.00 and we will contact people attending with payment information and how to secure the place in the workshop.  Do not pay anything yet.

Food, Drinks & Social
Afterwards we plan to chill out, chat, BBQ or picnic.  We have two bays reserved at the lake for our use. So bring your food, drinks and chairs and cross your fingers for a dry day so that you can get to meet other swimmers from our squads and 1-to-1 sessions. Share stories, inspire each other and meet new people from the South West Swim community. 

SUP or Kayaking (2:30pm wave)
There will also be the option for booking SUP boarding or Kayaking on the lake for those that wish to.  This is bookable directly with lake86 and you can do this via their website HERE .  I suggested the 2:30pm wave so we can go out as a group, but this time slot is also open to the general public.   If you wish to do this I would suggest BOOKING AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to ensure a craft is available, it is also cheaper to book in advance.

Charity Support & Cause
This year our charity will be the British Heart Foundation as I have been fund raising for them this year for the London Marathon 2025, and will also be fundraising for them again into 2026 as I am now part of the official BHF London Marathon 2026 team.  Last year we raised funds for Wiltshire air ambulance simply by attendees donating £5 or £10 into the bucket on the day.   I want to stress that donations are optional and anonymous. Please do not let it put you off coming if you don't wish to donate, that is fine.  The day is about meeting, chatting, sharing and having fun more than anything else.

We would love to have you join us at the lake for some swimming (be it training or social) and a day of chilling and socialising.  Let us know of your attendance by clicking the link box below, and use the inline links in this email to book the sighting session or SUP/Kayaking (this is with the lake directly).  Familys are welcome, but children under 18 will not be able to swim in the lake unless they are already signed off swim members. 

Important Notes:

• Standard Lake 86 rules, terms and fees apply. If you’re not a Lake 86 member, you’ll need to pay for swim entry and register as a PAYG member.

• Please sign up in advance so we know numbers and can plan accordingly.

• Safety First.  Please do not drink alcohol before a swim or SUP/Kayak Session.
  
  
• If you wish to take part in the sup / kayaking session at 2:30pm please ensure you book your space with the lake using the link s above.  Disclaimer: none of the funds from the kayak session are for Charity as you will be booking through the lake86 business.

Let’s make it a memorable one — see you there!

What to Expect:

Swim / Dip (around 9:30am onwards)
We will be starting off with a little social dip, or full training swim if you're still in training for an event.  Some of the long distance swimmers will likely be in the water already and have swum multiple laps by this point.  Swim for as long or as short as you like, but please note this is not a coached or supported swim.  Non members of Lake86 will need to book in for a PAYG swim session with the lake directly.

Charity Coached Session - Sighting (10am)
I will be running a short sighting workshop at 10am, with all proceeds going to our charity partner (see below). This fully coached session will be 50-60minutes long with a minimum donation of £20, and a maximum donation to what a sum whatever you feel the session is worth or wish to give. You must be a member of the lake or book in using one of your PAYG sessions to join this coached session, this session is for swimmers aged 18 and over and you must be able to swim 200m non stop front crawl as a minimum. A wetsuit is required.  

You can book onto this session HERE, it will be marked as £0.00 and we will contact people attending with payment information and how to secure the place in the workshop.  Do not pay anything yet.

Food, Drinks & Social
Afterwards we plan to chill out, chat, BBQ or picnic.  We have two bays reserved at the lake for our use. So bring your food, drinks and chairs and cross your fingers for a dry day so that you can get to meet other swimmers from our squads and 1-to-1 sessions. Share stories, inspire each other and meet new people from the South West Swim community. 

SUP or Kayaking (2:30pm wave)
There will also be the option for booking SUP boarding or Kayaking on the lake for those that wish to.  This is bookable directly with lake86 and you can do this via their website HERE .  I suggested the 2:30pm wave so we can go out as a group, but this time slot is also open to the general public.   If you wish to do this I would suggest BOOKING AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to ensure a craft is available, it is also cheaper to book in advance.

Charity Support & Cause
This year our charity will be the British Heart Foundation as I have been fund raising for them this year for the London Marathon 2025, and will also be fundraising for them again into 2026 as I am now part of the official BHF London Marathon 2026 team.  Last year we raised funds for Wiltshire air ambulance simply by attendees donating £5 or £10 into the bucket on the day.   I want to stress that donations are optional and anonymous. Please do not let it put you off coming if you don't wish to donate, that is fine.  The day is about meeting, chatting, sharing and having fun more than anything else.

We would love to have you join us at the lake for some swimming (be it training or social) and a day of chilling and socialising.  Let us know of your attendance by clicking the link box below, and use the inline links in this email to book the sighting session or SUP/Kayaking (this is with the lake directly).  Familys are welcome, but children under 18 will not be able to swim in the lake unless they are already signed off swim members. 

Important Notes:

• Standard Lake 86 rules, terms and fees apply. If you’re not a Lake 86 member, you’ll need to pay for swim entry and register as a PAYG member.

• Please sign up in advance so we know numbers and can plan accordingly.

• Safety First.  Please do not drink alcohol before a swim or SUP/Kayak Session.
  
  
• If you wish to take part in the sup / kayaking session at 2:30pm please ensure you book your space with the lake using the link s above.  Disclaimer: none of the funds from the kayak session are for Charity as you will be booking through the lake86 business.

Let’s make it a memorable one — see you there!