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Diving into Inclusivity: London to host first-ever Pride Swim on September 30

Graham Robson September 27, 2023

The LGBTQ+ community is gearing up for for the inaugural Pride Swim in the heart of London on Saturday, September 30, which will take place at the Royal Docks, marking a step in fostering unity, wellness, and celebration within the community.

Polly Shute, co-founder of the Out & Wild Festival and former Pride in London board member, envisions the Pride Swim as a transformative platform for enhancing the wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community. She said: “We have run wild swimming for two years as part of the Out & Wild Festival, and seen the real impact it has on those who take part.

“Out & Wild events are focused on creating new spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to connect through shared experiences. Given the growth of wild swimming it seemed a no brainer to launch the first ever Pride Swim and we are looking forward to rolling out more events in 2024.”

The excitement doesn’t stop at the water’s edge. A vibrant post-swim arena awaits swimmers and their guests, complete with music and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages, in partnership with Lucky Saint.

Michael Gunning

The event will unite swim athletes and celebrities, such as Michael Gunning, former World Championship swimmer and LGBTQ+ activist, who will be cutting the ribbon, and inclusive swim groups, including Out To Swim, a London and Brighton-based LGBTQ+ swimming, group and The BlueTits movement.

You will need to be a NOWCA member to take part in Pride Swim and you must be able to swim confidently in open water, tread water and swim 400m without stopping.

For more info, CLICK HERE

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