Places Leisure and FEAR charity bring accessible swimming lessons to artificially-fed families across West Sussex

Kim Purkis, from Face Everything and Rise (FEAR), is arranging swimming sessions for children, adults and their friends and family who are artificially-fed or are receiving treatment via a central line, and previously have not been able to access swimming pools.

The charity has received funding from Sport England and Cash for Kids to support affected families to venture to the water.

This includes the supply of NHS approved Cath Dry dressings and specialist Drysuits that are crucial for many of the members.

Individuals can get into the water whilst keeping medical equipment safe, dry, and reducing the risk of infections.

For some attendees it’s their first time in a swimming pool!

Kim said: "When you are artificially fed, accessing swimming be-comes extremely difficult for a lot of families.

"Whether you have to wear specialised Drysuits or have feeding tubes 'on show’, swimming can leave you feeling vulnerable to people staring.

"This is why Face Everything and Rise (FEAR) now run monthly swimming events, across England, exclusively for children and adults (and their families) who are artificially-fed; providing opportunities for families to swim with confidence and privacy, in a fun environment.

"To have a leading leisure company, such as Places Leisure, now fully support the use of Drysuits across their swimming pools is huge!

"It now means that no one misses out on the joy of swimming, because of needing to wear a Drysuit in the water. It’s life changing!”

The first event was run with the support of Sam Holdaway, Danny Churcher and Ian Souch at Romsey Rapids and included over 100 attendees – with some travelling over 150 miles!

Mark Haslam, head of swimming and sport at Places Leisure, said: “our partnership with Kim Purkis and FEAR just made sense.

“We want to bring swimming and more generally, fitness, to everyone we possibly can.

“Putting the right sessions, instructors, and equipment in place to allow some people to swim for the first time is just fantastic to see.

"We can’t wait to keep putting on these sessions and expanding them across our pools nationwide.”

There are now 18 events booked across our Places Leisure sites in 2023.

ALSO IN THE NEWS: Critically-acclaimed chef and former Great British Menu contestant joins Sussex restaurant and estate as executive chef

HAVE YOU READ? Has elusive street artist Banksy struck in Horsham?