Dean and friends brave chilly loch to highlight mental health
Keeping ahead of Covid restrictions, a group of brave swimmers took to the cold waters of Loch Linnhe in Fort William last week to help increase awareness and raise money to help combat metal health issues, writes Mark Entwistle.
Leading the big splash is local plumber and inspirational podcaster 26-year-old Dean Cameron, who launched his own ‘12 Cold Days of Christmas’ challenge, swimming in the loch for four minutes each day, finishing on Christmas Day.
Despite facing heavy, chilling rain almost every day, Dean took to the water wearing only underwear and trainers, although on this particular occasion he climbed into a special Santa Claus ‘mankini’, much to the amusement of his fellow bathers.
He said: ‘Today was all about having a laugh and involving as many people as possible in the challenge, but the underlying message is that mental health is a real problem, especially among young men.
‘I myself have faced depression but fortunately came out it, others I know have not been so lucky, with some taking their own lives. The point of my challenge is to further raise awareness of just how widespread this problem can be, while also raising money to help local charities who are dealing with it.’
Online donors and sponsors have already splashed out more than £2,000, twice Dean’s original target, and he was on course to reach £2,500 by Christmas Day, when he promised once again to don his mankini for a final swim off the remote Sanna beach in Ardnamuchan.