'Chilli Gylly' swim Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth fundraiser

Swimmers and supporters at The Gylly Chilli Swim for Ukraine

Falmouth’s Gyllyngvase Beach was packed for the event with swimmers and their supporters running into the sea with the Ukranian flag and then enjoying a bowl of warming chilli courtesy of the organisers in return for a donation to the Red Cross which is working with victims in Ukraine.

Swimmers and supporters at The Gylly Chilli Swim for Ukraine

Hotel resort St Michaels offered free chilli to its members for donations and Gylly Beach Cafe matched the cost of all food and drink bought from the takeaway kiosk by Chilly Dippers and donating to the Red Cross.

Swimmers and supporters at The Gylly Chilli Swim for Ukraine

The need was brought even further into perspective this morning after it was revealed that the Russians had shelled an art school destroying it and trapping hundreds of mainly women and children in bomb shelters underneath sheltering from attack.

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This comes on top of the shelling and destruction of a theatre in the city of Mariupol by Russian shells, trapping hundreds more under the rubble.

Swimmer Sarah Nield and organiser Kathy Drake at The Gylly Chilli Swim for Ukraine

Organiser Kathy Drake, a keen Cornish Swimmer, said she was delighted with the turn-out with between 150 to 200 people estimated to have entered the sea as well as their supporters on the beach.

"The turnout out is absolutely amazing," she said. "I had hoped for a feeling of Christmas Day swim it's a bit choppy out there but it's made it bit much more challenging a bit more fun. For us it's 20 minutes of cold but for the Ukranians it's just to start for them because I think this war is going to go on. It's our chance to do out bit and dig deep.

Rachel Nicholls-Lee and Celia Hawthorn enjoy some chilli after taking part in the Gylly Chilli Swim for Ukraine

Kathy came up with the idea during her daily swim in the sea when someone asked what we could do to help the people in Ukraine and we came come up with the idea of the "Chilly Chilli Dip".

"This is the launch event in Falmouth," she said. "Hopefully it will get some attention on social media and through the press and spread the word and I'd love it to be a national thing."

Swimmers and supporters at The Gylly Chilli Swim for Ukraine

Swimmer Sarah Nield told the Packet when she came out of the water: "It was absolutely amazing. The waves are such fun. Just the atmosphere and we are all swimming for the same reason. It's brilliant. I feel quite emotional."

The Red Cross has been suggested as the preferred charity for donations, with participants being asked to donate direct, or alternatively to other charities of their choice. You can donate here.