A calendar featuring all-year-round sea swimmers has raised £2,000 for the RNLI. 

The Millie Chilly Swimmers bathe mostly from beaches at Looe, Millendreath, Seaton and Readymoney in Fowey.

One of the members, Karen, who took some of the photographs for the calendar, said: “We wanted to do something to raise money for the RNLI Looe lifeboats, because as a group of sea swimmers it is reassuring to know they are always there for us with their pagers ready to respond no matter what the sea throws at them.

"We are humbled to know these people are volunteers with jobs and a life of their own which they are willing to put on the line for all of us.”

Millie Chilly 2024 calendars went on sale in the summer and the group has been delighted that so many people have bought them. As well as featuring 12 themed photographs, the calendar also includes RNLI safety advice for anyone considering a swim in the sea.

The group held a lunchtime get-together at the Beach House, Seaton, where they presented a cheque to Looe RNLI fundraising team treasurer Jeanette Deakin and branch chair Rod Pritchard.

Jeanette and Rod thanked the swimmers and Rod explained how the money raised will be used towards the running costs of the lifeboat station, crew equipment and training.

The group has already started to take photographs for a 2025 calendar which will raise funds for the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust’s helicopter appeal.