ROCK-BASED Sharp’s Brewery was delighted to once again be supporting the annual Padstow to Rock swim on Friday, July 27.

Three of its team members also participated in the gruelling challenge to raise money for Marie Curie, a charity that cares for people living with a terminal illness and their families.

This year’s event has currently raised nearly £80,000 in support of Marie Curie nurses in Cornwall with its epic one-mile open water swim across the Camel Estuary. The total amount raised from this year’s event will be announced later this month.

The brewery also put forward its very own team of three in the race, made up of Aaron McClure (technical brewer), Barry Mills (quality and food safety manager) and Ali Burgess (events co-ordinator).

Ali, who has endured her own battle with a serious illness, also received the ‘Endeavour Award’ for her services and fantastic commitment to the swim.

The Padstow to Rock Swim was started in the early 1970s when Sarah Hawkins persuaded friends and family to swim across the Camel Estuary to raise money for charity. Since then, the event has grown massively and is today run by a local swim committee.

Lynda Thomas, community fundraiser for Marie Curie in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands, said: “Marie Curie is very grateful for the support from the community to raise this impressive amount in support of nurses all around the county. We must also give thanks to the swimmers who year after year come back to complete this amazing challenge and of course to our incredible sponsors.”