A popular and much-loved tradition returned on New Year’s Day with a splash – raising and attracting thousands.

The Lyme Lunge – which was cancelled last year due to Covid – raised over £4,000 through sponsorship and donations.

The event is run by The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis and held at Sandy Beach, Lyme Regis. Each year The Rotary Club pick two charities to raise money for. This year their chosen charities were Weldmar Hospicecare and Macmillan Cancer Support.

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Peter Fortnam, of The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis, said: “The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis were pleased to be able to go ahead and hold the Lyme Lunge on New Year’s Day again this year despite many events having to be cancelled.

“It was a great success! Despite the early rain it is estimated between 850 and 1000 swimmers in fancy dress took ‘the Plunge for the Lunge’, including our own Rotary District Governor and our Assistant Governor who gamely supported us.

“There were many thousands of spectators enjoying the spectacle of so many throwing themselves into the sea of Lyme Bay.”

In the nine years the event has been running the Lunge, the Rotary has given just over £25,000 to charity.

Mr Fortnam said: “We thank people for their donations to our charity collection for Macmillan Cancer Support, Weldmar Hospicecare and Rotary Charities.

“Initial estimates put the collection in excess of £4,000 with various sponsorship money to come in. Young Joshua Denning from Lyme Regis is a great supporter of so many local charities, he alone has been, as we understand, been able to raise in excess of £500.”

The Lunge is a large community effort that wouldn’t be able to go ahead without support.

Mr Fortnam said: “Our sincere thanks to all our supporters, sponsors and helpers who help make this event possible. A special mention to our main sponsors The Pilot Boat and The Swim Restaurant, and The Harbour Inn for providing hot soup for the Lungers.

“Our special thanks to the Lyme Regis RNLI who provide safety in the water, St John Ambulance First Responders, the Lyme Regis Sailing Club, and all our other many sponsors in our Lunge brochure.

“Our thanks of course to our Mayor Councillor Brian Larcombe and the mayoress for attending, and to our very own Rotarian the Town Crier Alan Vian and his wife Lynne, who do so much to help this and so many other events.

“A Happy New Year to all from The Rotary Club of Lyme Regis.”