Women dared to bare at new Topless Swim cancer fundraiser

North Devon women are being dared to bare at a brand-new fundraising event being held in support of breast cancer care at North Devon District Hospital (NDDH).

The ladies-only Topless Swim event is being held at the historic Tunnels Beach in Ilfracombe on Sunday, November 3.

More than 130 women have already signed up to the event just days after being launched by Royal Devon Hospitals Charity (formerly known as Over and Above).

The charity hopes it will raise £25,000 in sponsorship, half of which will go towards breast cancer care at NDDH, with the other half going towards wellbeing support for cancer patients at the hospital’s Fern Centre.

Royal Devon Hospitals Charity (RDHC) community fundraiser, Kate Constable, said: “It’s a completely new event for the charity and to see more than half the spaces go in just a few days has been fantastic.

“The tidal pool at beautiful Tunnels is the perfect location for what is promising to be a very special event.

“It’ll be refreshing. It’ll be empowering. It’ll be fun. And we hope it will be a brilliant way to promote body positivity and raise money to help provide the best care for breast cancer patients in North Devon.”

Registration for Topless Swim, thought to be the first event of its kind in North Devon, is £20 and is limited to 250 women. It includes entry to Tunnels Beach, a hand-knitted event bobble hat, goody bag and a mug of hot chocolate on the beach to warm up after the dip.

All participants, staff, volunteers, lifeguards, entertainment and first aiders will be female. The Breast Cancer and Fern Centre cancer teams will also be on hand on the day to offer advice about breast cancer screening and early detection, as well as provide information about the care and support available.

The Topless Swim event has been inspired by North Devon’s ‘Topless Runner’, Louise Butcher, who runs topless to promote body positivity following a double mastectomy in 2022.

Louise, from Braunton, has been supported by the NDDH breast care team and the Fern Centre, and the hospital charity hopes to build on her powerful message.

“I’m really excited to be part of such an exciting event and am looking forward to standing together with other women to promote body positivity and raise money to support other breast cancer patients right here in North Devon,” said Louise.

“I run topless to try to give encouragement to women about being body positive and accepting the way they are or the way they have become,” she added.

“It’s about seeing beauty in scars rather than covering them up. These scars saved my life and enable me to see my children grow up.”

To register to take part in Topless Swim, visit www.royaldevoncharity.org.uk/event/topless-swim-2024