A team of Tenby Boxing Day Swim fundraisers will be making a record-breaking bid as they splash out in the charity event on Monday.

Nearly £15,000 has already been raised locally for Bloodwise - formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research - inspired by sportsman Simon Rossiter who was diagnosed earlier this year with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

And the enthusiastic members of Tenby’s Bloodwise team are calling on as many people as possible to join them in the sea on Boxing Day.

Said team organiser Chris Brace: “We welcome everyone to come and be part of the Tenby Boxing Day Bloodwise team - come and join in the fun on the North Beach on Boxing Day. We will meet under the Bloodwise banner at 11 am.

“If you don’t actually fancy a dip, then we also need volunteers for the bucket collection, as the organiser of the Boxing Day Swim have bery kindly chosen Bloodwise as one of their charities, along with The Stroke Association and Hafal,” he continued.

Organised by the Tenby Sea Swim Association (TSSA), the swim is now in its 46th year and ranked as one of Britain’s top festive highlights.

This year’s fancy dress theme is The Music of the Sea, and there will be a special prize for the best musical contribution. This will be judged in the fancy dress arena by Tenby entertainer Laurie Dale between 11am and 11.15am, ahead of the stampede to the sea at 11.30 am.

The weather forecast for a sunny Boxing Day and an air temperature of 9 degrees looks set to inspire hundreds of barmy bathers to join in the event and once again raise thousands of pounds for charities and good causes.

Everyone is encouraged to get sponsored - whether for the swim’s nominated charities or their own good causes - and sponsor forms can be downloaded from www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk

Listen out on BBC Radio 2 at 8.45 am on Boxing Day morning to hear TSSA chairman Chris Osborne being interviewed about the swim on the Chris Evans Show.

Pics. Gareth Davies Photography