Fundraisers will gather on Scarborough's South Bay beach this Sunday to form a giant number 400 in support of a proposed new tidal sea pool.
A giant human number 400 will be formed on the sands of Scarborough's South Bay this weekend to raise funds for a proposed tidal sea pool.
Participants are being urged to gather near the Beachcomber Kiosk at 1pm on Sunday, to create the massive shape on the beach.
The event aims to celebrate the town's 400th anniversary while securing vital funds to progress plans for a safe, year-round swimming facility located close to the Spa.
Organiser Cathy Foreman said:
"We're trying to do a massive 400 to help celebrate the Scarborough 400 celebrations. We are having as many people as possible, oh I'd love 400 people, but maybe not, 40 would be amazing. But we're going to have sand art during the 400 on the beach. We're having drone pictures above as well so we can all wave. We're giving away brightly coloured swim hats for everybody. Yeah if you don't swim, don't worry about it you can pass on that one. Any age can come. They have to be accompanied by an adult if you're under 18, please. And it's going to be fundraising towards our project to build a new tidal sea pool which is going to be close to the spa and at the South Bay anyway."
Brightly coloured silicone swimming hats will be provided to everyone taking part, and attendees are being encouraged to dress up as their favourite sea creatures.
A quick dip in the sea is planned for afterwards, subject to weather conditions and the sea state, with the tide forecast to be low. Organisers have stressed that participants under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by an adult.
The project has already received pledges of £1,500 from anonymous donors, and campaigners are now aiming to match that amount by raising an additional £1,500.
Cathy Foreman explained where the money will be spent:
"We are hopefully going to have marine engineers, specialist technical surveys. This is what the money is going to go towards and it'll just help with that, really. So it's going to be really good fun and creative and visual, hopefully, from the Spa Bridge especially. We'll have a great view with that. And yeah, just keep the Scarborough 400 celebrations going into the autumn, really. You can find our event on Eventbrite, so we'd like you to register. Just search for Scarborough 400 celebrations, it's free. And you can donate. We've got a GoFundMe page called Dive In and Donate. So again, go to GoFundMe and search it."
A spokesperson for Scarborough Sea Pool CIC, the group behind the campaign, described the project as reaching an important milestone.
"The project is reaching an important milestone in progressing with marine engineering and specialist technical surveys, which this funding will help with. The 400 on the beach challenge will be a fun, creative and visually engaging way for people to show support for the Scarborough Sea pool project and to keep the Scarborough 400 celebrations going into the Autumn."
The community interest company is made up of a passionate and committed group of sea swimmers and cold water dippers who believe a tidal pool will make it safer for everyone to swim all year round.
They hope the facility will act as a venue for open water swimming events and water safety training, ensuring that those who are new to sea swimming and cold water dipping can feel secure.
The group operates under the motto that a Scarborough without a sea pool is like fish without chips.
Anyone wishing to join the beach formation should register for free by searching for Scarborough 400 Celebration on Eventbrite, while donations to support the marine engineering surveys can be made through the Dive in and Donate GoFundMe page.
However, people can just turn up on the day.
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