365 Days in the Sea

Construction tutor Bernard Dearle from East Sussex College Hastings is taking a daily dip in the sea for charity

It started out as a bit of exercise during the first lockdown, but the Hastings tutor has now committed to a daily swim in aid of St Michael’s Hospice in Hastings.

“When lockdown happened, I was going for a regular walk or a run and then cycling” Bernard explains. “Then one day last summer I looked out to sea and on a whim I went for a swim then and there!”

His quick impulse (Bernard had no towel or change of clothes when the moment caught him!) turned into a daily routine and he set himself a challenge. Could he do it all summer? When this was accomplished, he set a goal for Christmas. And then New Year… Now, he is aiming for 365 days, which takes him up until June, and he is raising money for a local hospice close to his heart.

“I lost a close friend last year who philosophized that people take the easy way out when they should just roll up their sleeves and get stuck in. I use his words to continue my daily challenge in his memory.

“There are three things driving me: the loss of my friend, his outlook to not give up, and an obligation to the hospice, which is where my mum worked from the 1980s until recently, so she is pleased that I’m fundraising for them,”

On Christmas Day 2020, Bernard was joined by ESC tutor Tony Brooks, and his son has joined him on occasion too. Bernard says the support from colleagues at the college has really helped him stay motivated.

Bernard faced the coldest weather back in early February, when snow and wind chill factors made for challenging conditions. “I’d been on campus to sort some work for our apprentices, so I didn’t get to the beach until around 3pm. That day I did briefly think, what am I doing, but the sponsorship really spurs me on. The quickest dip I’ve done is around two minutes, when it was just so rough and cold. My longest swim has been about 20 minutes. As long as the water comes up to my shoulders it counts. It was only later that day I checked the temperature from the time of my swim and it was a wind chill factor of -9!”

Nowadays, Bernard checks the sea conditions and wind, finding the best time to go is two hours either side of low tide. Other elements, such as rain or snow, aren’t a factor. His favourite spot is the old bathing site in St Leonards.

“My goal is to raise £1,500 for the hospice by the time I’ve completed 365 days. My family, friends and work colleagues have been so supportive and I’m on track to meet my target. It’s the best thing I’ve done in a long time!”

Help Bernard fundraise for St Michael’s Hospice:

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Danny Pike interviews construction tutor Bernard Dearle from East Sussex College Hastings who is taking a daily dip in the sea for charity.

bbc.co.uk/radiosussex

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