Shekinah is calling on all its supporters to ‘save the date’ and note the new time of its annual New Year’s Day Wembury Beach swim.  Due to tides the event, which is in its 8th year, will kick off at a later time of 1pm, providing a lie in for late night revellers and an afternoon start for die hard bathing enthusiasts seeking to bravely plunge into the foaming briny for an exhilarating beginning to the New Year. 

“We had so much fun last year and raised so much money for Shekinah, it would be great if we could make the next one even more successful, imaginative, entertaining and colourful,” says 77 year old organiser Terry Clarke, who dons his straw boater and Victorian bathing suit every year for his whistle start. “Please tell your friends, bring your kids, prepare your fancy dress outfits and props, drum up some support, get sponsored, be brave and come along to join the onlookers, completely submerge yourself or just dip your toes in.  You’ll be so glad you did!” he adds.

Attracting an increasing number of participants every year, over 100 swimmers of all ages took part on January 1, 2011 raising £1000 for Shekinah.  Mark and Dianne Baker at the Wembury’s Old Mill Café will be preparing tea, coffee and a special ‘warm up’ soup for swimmers and spectators which will be on sale from 12pm – 2pm with all profits donated to Shekinah. 

Terry’s fundraising enthusiasm also extends to running for Shekinah in Plymouth’s half marathon and he would like to encourage others to join ‘team Shekinah’ for next year's event. Terry, who keeps busy as caretaker at Wembury Primary School where he also runs a beekeeping club for 16 year six children only began running when he was 70 and will be competing in his seventh half marathon next May.  Explaining how he initially caught the running bug, Terry says:  “I never did athletics or football and probably wasn’t very fit.  I announced to my family that I was thinking of running the Plymouth half.  It was meant to be a joke but instead of getting a laugh there was deathly silence. I decided to show them all that I could do it, despite my age and that’s when my training began”. 

Anyone interested in finding out more about Shekinah, its New Year’s Day Swim or would like to join Shekinah’s Plymouth half marathon team can contact Jenny Patton 01803 217890, who works Wednesdays pm, Thursdays and Fridays or visit www.shekinahmission.co.uk