TWO young boys have set themselves a challenge to raise money for a much-loved local amenity.

Max, aged 11, and Leo, nine, have tasked themselves with completing 30 swims in Bude Sea Pool to raise money for the Friends of Bude Sea Pool (FoBSP).

In December, the boys and their family moved to Bude from Yorkshire. Following their move, the family have been incredibly impressed with having a facility like the sea pool on their doorstep.

Danielle Cresswell, the boys’ mother, explained: “Deb, the pool manager, did an assembly at school which showed just how much money they need to raise each year. The fact that it saves so many lives because people can swim safely is just incredible.

“Max attends St Mark’s in Morwenstow and for residential went to Adventure Bude and he did a morning swim there. He then decided he was going to do it during the holidays and one of his brothers wanted to do it too.”

Having visited the sea pool on a number of occasions, they expressed their amazement at having such a unique free resource in the area and as such, decided they would like to raise money for it.

Despite initially suggesting a bake sale, they boys decided that a sponsored swim would be much more fitting.

Now, with the summer holidays well and truly underway, the pair were ready to take on their 30 swims - set to be complete before school returns.

Danielle continued: “They feel so passionately that this incredible free resource should be able to stay free for everyone to enjoy, to swim safely and have fun. The sea pool relies on donations and so they are swimming to raise much needed funds.

“They have completed 11 swims so far. They are both becoming such strong swimmers which is brilliant as they didn’t get much chance to practice before. They have also learnt about float to live and other lifesaving information.”

However, despite their enthusiasm, the task hasn’t been without its challenges, with the boys opting to go sans wetsuits, instead opting for good old fashioned swim shorts, the pool’s cold and sometimes windy conditions can make for a chilly swim!

The pair has initially hoped to raise £70 for FoBSP, however, having already smashed that target, the boys are now setting their sights on raising £200.

Bude Sea Pool is preserved and enhanced, as well as kept safe and free by the charity, Friends of Bude Sea Pool (FoBSP). This charity receives no regular town, council or central government funding and therefore relies on the generosity of those who visit and use it.

The charity has said that it aims ‘to preserve, improve and enhance the historic Sea Pool at Summerleaze Beach, Bude, Cornwall, as an amenity for the benefit of the community and visitors to the town.’

Donations to support the cause can be made to Max and Leo’s GoFundMe page via: www.gofundme.com/f/30-swims-for-bude-sea-pool