Popular Boxing Day charity open water dip ready to welcome hardy souls to Chasewater
An annual event which welcomes hardy souls and people looking to shake off the Christmas day cobwebs is set to return for another fundraising bit of fun.
Dozens of people will be taking the plunge as they take part in the Chasewater Boxing Day Charity Dip at the Watersports Centre this Boxing Day.
The event, which is organised by Chase Open Water Swimming, raises money for Dementia UK and organiser Anthony Powell said it had become a tradition over the last seven years.
He said: "I used to be part of the water skiing club and we would always do a naked swim as a Boxing Day-themed event to raise money for charity, so when I started doing the swimming, it was just a natural progression to get people to do a Boxing Day dip for charity.
"It's become a natural thing for people to get out and about after Christmas Day and it's just grown and grown over time as I think people love the challenge because it's a dip, not a swim.
"We have swimmers who go out and do 15 minutes' swimming, whereas on Boxing Day, it's literally in and out, apart from a handful of regulars who are used to the cold water, and it's about doing something to raise funds for charity and create a good feeling with people."
Mr Powell said the event was one which attracted all types of people and all shapes and sizes, with everyone having a laugh and enjoying doing it together, and spoke about the charity the event was in aid of.
He said: "We all do it for Dementia UK as, unfortunately, we've all had family members and friends who have suffered from dementia and it's just a charity really close to our hearts.
"We'll start advertising the event properly in December, with a WhatsApp group and posts on our Facebook page, and we'll pass around the bucket on the day for people to pay into.
"The entrance fee is £10 and everyone will go into the water at 11am in a mass start, so people will hold hands and help each other in and also help each other out."
