Swimmers are gearing up for an endurance challenge between Cumbrae Watersports Centre and Largs Sailing Club slip on 21 September.

The 1.7 mile swim in open water has been organised annually since 2006.

Since then it has become more and more popular with numbers participating between 80-100 in recent years, raising over £12,000 in total for the Gillian's Saltire Appeal.

Over 100 swimmers now take part in the annual event.

The distance is roughly 100-110 lengths in a 25 metre pool and the swim attracts swimmers of all ages and a variety of abilities with the fastest swimmers finishing in an incredible 31 minutes!

This year the swimmers will register at Largs Sailing Club at 11am with the plan for the swim to begin from Cumbrae Watersports Centre at 1pm.

The Gillian's Saltire Appeal was set up in memory of Largs mum Gillian Ward who died of cancer in 2005.

Gillian was remarkable only for the fact that she loved life and made those around her happy.

The charity was set up to honour her memory and at the same time make a real difference to the lives of others who suffer from the same illness.

The charity has bought a property at the Moorings seafront complex providing respite for people recovering from cancer.

Gillian's husband, Les and a group of his friends had a meeting and decided to organise a campaign to raise money to provide practical and meaningful help for people who suffer from cancer.

Les said: "The swim event has always been well supported and is one of the big occasions on the Saltire Appeal calendar.

"We have been running the Saltire Swim for many years so we are hoping to have a really good turn-out."

For more details about taking part in the swim, go here: gillianssaltireappeal.org.uk/cumbrae-swim-2019/