Volunteers helping local people through sea swimming therapy have been thanked at a Christchurch wellness event.
Bridge Health and Wellbeing hosted volunteers from Chill Dorset, a not-for-profit organisation which runs structured sea swimming courses for adults with long-term mental or physical health conditions, including anxiety, depression and cancer.
The Christchurch event included a Pilates Reformer taster session, guided meditation and breathing, and a wellness goody bag, giving volunteers time together away from their coaching work at Avon Beach.
Louise O’Connell, Pilates teacher and co-founder of Bridge Health and Wellbeing, said the team wanted to support “a small, local charity” working close to the clinic in Christchurch.
She said Chill Dorset operates from Avon Beach, “just minutes from our clinic”, and thanked Erica from Evolve with Erica for sharing her time with the volunteers.
Jo Cox, an experienced cold water swimmer and volunteer coach at Chill, said the evening gave the team a chance to “focus on our own wellness” while recognising their work in the community.
She said the charity was “incredibly grateful” for Bridge Health and Wellbeing’s support, including help with last year’s Charity Beach Pilates and Sea Dip event, which raised more than £750.
This year’s Beach Pilates and Sea Dip fundraiser takes place on Friday 3 July near the Beach Hut Cafe at Friars Cliff on Avon Beach, with donations encouraged to support Chill Dorset’s work.
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