Skinny Dip at Topsham Lido: Baring all for charity
On a warm sunny Saturday evening on the 27th August, 48 intrepid swimmers bared all in aid of the mental health charity MIND Devon.
After nervously assembling on the poolside, at the allotted hour of 7.30pm the gathered group all dropped their towels and jumped naked and costume-free into the beautifully warm water of the Topsham Lido.
The ensemble of brave skinny dippers enjoyed an hour swimming, splashing about, chatting and making new friends. A few hours before clothes-off, several of the fund-raisers - some who had not met before - rendezvoused for a pre-dip drink to give one another some moral support to take the plunge. Afterwards several of the skinny dippers commented:
“We would love to swim again. I’m afraid I’m not prepared anymore to swim in any clothes it’s just not as enjoyable"
"Thank you for letting me attend - it was good meeting other naturists as I'm new to it so I was nervous about stripping off but everyone made me feel welcome. I certainly didn't expect as many people but it was a good atmosphere"
"Really enjoyed Topsham swim last night"
"Fantastic Topsham swimming pool event"
The night was a huge success and the pool was full to capacity. Everyone had a great time and £239.30 was raised for a very worthwhile cause. A big thank you must go to all the staff at Topsham Lido for making the skinny dip possible.
The night was organised by Bare West Events - a group run by volunteers that promote naturist events across the West Country. Their philosophy is based around the concept of encouraging body confidence and positivity which in turn engenders better health and mental well-being.
Devon Mind is an independent mental health charity affiliated with the national Mind association. They provide advice, information and support to empower anyone in Devon who may be experiencing a mental health problem. They also campaign to improve local support services, raise awareness, and promote the understanding of mental health across Devon. For more information, visit: www.devonmind.com
If you’d like to know more about Bare West Events and their future gatherings you can find this information on their website: www.barewestevents.com
