Charity cash flows in after best dip ever
A beach skinny dip made its biggest footprint yet as its organiser celebrates its most successful year.
More than 400 people ditched their clothes to take part in this year’s North East Skinny Dip (NESD), raising the most money in its history for Mind, with £7,500 collected so far and more still to be collected in.
The event was organised by Jax Higginson, from Whitburn, and held at Druridge Bay, in Northumberland, for the fifth year running at dawn on Sunday.
She said: “It was amazing, the best yet by a mile.
“It was definitely a record -breaker and possibly the biggest because it’s the first time we’ve officially counted, although we’re still working out the final number.
“It also felt bigger in its energy and there were more people who wanted to talk about why they were doing it.
“People said they found it exhilarating, gratifying and felt a love for life.
“There was a really incredible atmosphere.”
She added her thanks to all those who had helped her plan and run the event to make it a reality, from those who provided food to artists and musicians who provided entertainment at the event.
The event is planned to run as close as possible to the autumn equinox to mark the end of the summer and start of the new season.
“Uncoverage” of the event has been shared by media across the world.
Karen Bolton, head of community and events fundraising for Mind, said: “We’re tremendously grateful to Jax for setting up the North East Skinny Dip in aid of Mind and for her continued support of our work over a number of years.
“Every penny raised will fund Mind’s vital work including our Infoline, our advice services and the campaigning Mind does to secure a better deal for the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem every year.”
Donations can still be made through https://goo. gl/Y16Cu9 and https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ northeastskinnydip.
The event’s own page can be found via https://www.facebook.com/northeastskinnydip/.