Announcing a sponsored walk by naturists in aid of the Marine Conservation Society Coastal Challenge

Naturists will be participating in a sponsored walk along a stretch of the Dorset coast as part of British Naturism’s support of the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Coastal Challenge on the 2nd June. The event is open to all and walkers will walk without clothes if the weather and other circumstances permit.

Simple nudity in public is not against the law provided there is no intention to cause alarm or distress. The walk will be conducted in accordance with British Naturism’s Public Acceptance Policy, launched last year – www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=171.

British Naturism’s National President Pat Thompson, said:
“It’s great to be involved with a national sponsored event that not only enables naturists to participate nude for a good cause, but also promotes our wonderful world. Naturism is becoming more popular and acceptable and this is a great chance to show the uninitiated that it is a sensible, harmless, unthreatening activity that brings great health benefits.

Communications Manager for MCS, the UK charity for our seas, shores and wildlife, Richard Harrington, said:
“We are delighted that British Naturism has chosen MCS as their president’s charity. The support of British Naturism and their members and involvement in our Coastal Challenge, which aims to cover the entire distance around the beautiful UK coastline of 18,470km (11,477 miles), will help fund our vital work to protect our seas for future generations”.

For further information and details of the walk please see - www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=269.

- ENDS -

Contacts:
BN Commercial Manager:
Andrew Welch 020 8123 2269
07774 955138
commercial.manager@british-naturism.org.uk


MCS Communications Manager
Richard Harrington 01989 566017


MCS Fundraising Coordinator
Katherine Stephenson 01989 561587
Katherine.stephenson@mcsuk.org

Notes for Editors
· British Naturism is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2004, although previous incarnations have been in existence since the 1930s.

· Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more naturist places to be made available and to protect naturists against discrimination.

· British Naturism have adopted the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as their President’s Charity of the Year. We are raising funds and awareness and working with them to raise money for their causes.

· The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine life and their habitats, and the sensitive use of our marine resources for future generations. www.mcsuk.org. Registered Charity Number 1004005

· To join BN (clothed or otherwise!) in taking the Coastal Challenge anyone can contact MCS to request their free fundraising pack from Katherine on 01989 561587 (or fundraising@mcsuk.org). The only rules are to cover distance (walk, swim, run, cycle, sail or surf) and get sponsored to help MCS care for our seas, shores and wildlife. Every supporter who raises £100 gets a fantastic free ‘MCS Champion’ t-shirt.

· In the UK, there are over 150 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and 12 officially designated naturist beaches, with many more being used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 15,000 people.

· 2007 sees a huge number of events for naturists at fantastic public venues, such as the Eden Project and Alton Towers. In June, British Naturism are organising a weekend of activities at Nudefest2007, the first event of its kind.

· BN co-produced Bare Britain, with Lifestyle Press in June 2005, a guidebook to naturism and naturist places in the UK. It is available in bookshops up and down the country, a landmark step for a book on this subject, and has become a best-seller. www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=49 A new guidebook from Lifestyle Press – the World Best Nude Beaches and Resorts – is to be published on 23 June 2007. See for details. www.lifestyle-press.co.uk

· YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of young men and women between the ages of 16 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represented the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held in France in 2005 and hosted the Rally in the UK in May 2007 – see www.british-naturism.org.uk/news/detail.asp?article_ID=48 for details.

· Naturism is good for you. Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is hot. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of naturism is the dress code. See FAQs about naturism here www.british-naturism.org.uk/pages/pages.asp?page_ID=39

· For more information on British Naturism, please visit our website at
www.british-naturism.org.uk/ For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” atwww.british-naturism.org.uk/mediacentre/ which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes, including a downloadable Media Information Pack. There is also a contact page www.british-naturism.org.uk/contact/ at to ensure that any enquiries are directed to the right person and gain an appropriate and speedy reply.