Mount swim raises over £20,000 for men’s health charity

320 swimmers took part in a sea swim around the iconic island of St Michaels Mount and raised over £20,000 for The Chestnut Appeal for men’s health.

A gentle breeze greeted the swimmers of all ages who tackled the challenging 2.5km open water course cheered on from Marazion beach by family and friends.

The annual fundraising swim has taken place since 2015 and attracts participants from across the UK, this year a twenty-strong team from Taunton School’s Long Distance Swim Club participated.

There was some fantastic fundraising by individuals who took part in the swim; Stephanie Smart swimming in memory of her father-in-law was joined by her daughter, Morwenna and raised £1,400.

Many were motivated to take part due to the loss of a loved one due to male cancer. Jenny Casson from the Roseland who regularly swims in Portloe harbour took part in the event after losing her Dad to prostate cancer in 2008.

The Chestnut Appeal support men with prostate, testicular and penile cancers and a large part of their work involve raising awareness and education.

The charity recently funded a PSA test event in partnership with mypsatests held at Plymouth Argyle’s Green Taverners suite aimed at men in the 45-60 age group and those in at-risk groups for prostate cancer. Two hundred and twenty men attended this event of which seventeen men were advised to seek further investigation.

The Chestnut Appeal is funding a PSA testing event being held at Penzance on Wednesday 21st September. Men in the area in the target age group can book a test for this event online at www.mypsatests.org.uk/events.

The charity is working with the NHS to develop a new Chestnut Unit for the next generation; a centre of excellence for men, to be based at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital and will support patients from Cornwall and Devon.

David Squires, Events & Campaigns Manager at The Chestnut Appeal said:

“We’re also funding two nurses to train to be specialists in sexual counselling who will be based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro. At present, there is no provision for this type of specialist counselling in the entire region, so we aim to get this vital provision up and running soon.

“We are very grateful to the swimmers who once again took on this challenge and helped raise an incredible total. We would also like to thank St Aubyn Estates for once again helping us with this event. We’re also delighted that the St Aubyn Foundation will be supporting us with grant funding over the next three years.”

For more information about The Chestnut Appeal please visit chestnutappeal.org.uk.