Hundreds strip off for sunrise skinny dip in the freezing North Sea to raise money for charity
Hardy souls raise nearly £5,000 for mental health charity MIND as they take chilly plunge in Druridge Bay, Northumberland, to celebrate the autumn equinox
MORE than 400 people stripped off and ran into the freezing North Sea to celebrate the autumn equinox - and raise money for charity.
It was the largest turnout the North East Skinny Dip has ever seen in its five-year history which is held to raise money for the mental health charity MIND.
Today’s event, which started at 5.30am in Druridge Bay, Northumberland, was also the first time it has ever rained on the day of the event.
Organiser Jax Higginson, from Sunderland, who came up with the idea after attending a similar event in Wales, said: “We always have a positive response.
“People do it one year then come back again and again. We’ve grown every year so far - people come back with a friend.”
Jax added the idea behind doing it at dawn is to run towards a rising sun “celebrating the summer and welcoming the winter”.
Ellen Headingly, 45, did the dip last year after her friends persuaded her and came back again today.
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She said: “I didn’t want to do it last year, it isn’t something I ever thought I would enjoy at all.
“But I managed to do it in 2015 and absolutely loved it, it was very peaceful and liberating.
She added that she didn’t think the rainy weather had spoilt this year’s experience.
“It was quite clear and sunny last year - we could see the sun rising quite clearly and that hasn’t happened this year,” she said.
“It was a different atmosphere last year too. The sea was far, far calmer and it was a lot more peaceful and quiet. Because of the clear skies it was far chillier last year.”
Each participant registers and pays a fee of £12 before the event, which gets donated to the charity.
Jax estimates about 400 people signed up to the dip, meaning nearly £5,000 has been raised.
Last year, 350 people completed the challenge and before that around 180. The event has raised more than £12,000 for MIND since it began in 2012.
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