Weymouth swimmers forming human chain to beat eating disorders

Sea swimmers in Weymouth are forming a human chain in a show of solidarity for those who have eating disorders.

The chain could stretch to both ends of Lodmoor beach if enough people turn up to the Hands on the Sand event tomorrow morning. (5 March)

It's taking place at 10am and the Blue Tits swimming group want as many of us to link arms as possible.

They want to make a chain that reaches to the Oasis Cafe from the groyne rocks.

The event has already raised over £1,600 for the eating disorder charity Beat.

Esther Osborne set up the idea on a whim after she mentioned it to a friend.

She said:

"I don’t think there is a person on the planet who hasn’t been deeply affected by the pandemic and quite frankly, we are all sick of the word ‘Covid’ but the impact the pandemic had on people with eating disorders was huge.

"It was the perfect storm for the illness to thrive, for people to relapse, being so isolated and to have their access to services and therapists taken away.

"There was a huge surge in cases and an even bigger unmanageable demand for referrals and Beat saw an exponential rise in people desperately trying to access help."

You can find out more about how to take part here.

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• Dorset
• Eating Disoders
• charity
• lodmoor