Dancing On Ice star Mollie Pearce opens up on training for her toughest challenge yet as she swaps the ice rink for open water for charity.
She was the fan-favourite on The Traitors in 2024 and is currently lighting up the ice rink on Dancing on Ice, but reality star Mollie Pearce is preparing to take on her most personal challenge yet.
The 22-year-old will trade sequins for a wetsuit as she plunges into the icy waters of Cornwall this summer, swimming a mile across the Camel Estuary to raise money for the end-of-life care charity, Marie Curie.
Braving the unpredictable tides of the Padstow to Rock Swim, Mollie acknowledges that this challenge is unlike anything she’s ever done before. “I’ve swum a mile for charity before, when I was younger. But that was just in a pool, so this is way different,” she admits. “I’m not a swimmer at all, but I’m hoping my cardio training from Dancing on Ice will help me with the challenge.”
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Why Marie Curie?
For Mollie, the cause is deeply personal. Before finding fame, she worked as a healthcare assistant, and her experiences shaped her understanding of end-of-life care. Her perspective shifted further last year when she took part in a beauty campaign with Superdrug, raising money for Marie Curie.
“I had the opportunity to speak with three Marie Curie nurses,” she recalls. “The conversations really opened my eyes, and I realised how little we talk about end-of-life care. If we don’t have these conversations, we don’t know what our loved ones want when the time comes. Mollie is keen to raise awareness about the vital work Marie Curie does.
“This charity is amazing. It’s not just there for patients but also for the families left behind. Death is something that will affect everyone, but the Marie Curie nurses made me realise it doesn’t have to be a terrible thing. We don’t need to fear it.”
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While she hasn’t set a specific fundraising target, she’s determined to make a difference. “I just want to raise as much as we can,” she says. “I’m doing the swim with my brother, so I’m hoping between us we can make a lot.”
A message of resilience
Mollie is no stranger to challenges, living with both limb difference and a stoma bag. Yet she refuses to let these define her, or hold her back. “I want people living with a disability to know that anything is possible,” she says. “I don’t see my stoma or limb difference as a disability. You just have to make adjustments.”
She’s even found a community of support. “I met a fellow ostomate swimmer at an event, and she gave me advice — like letting the bag open while swimming. I might call her for more tips!”
As for her limb difference, Mollie is unfazed: “I don’t really need my hand for swimming anyway!”
The Padstow to Rock Swim promises to test Mollie’s resolve, but her determination is unwavering – for the reality star, it’s about making waves for a cause that matters deeply to her.
