Daily dips into icy water aid homeless charity
YORKSHIRE DALES wild swimmers are braving a daily dip into icy waters across the north of England to raise funds to help end homelessness in the UK.
Around 30 members of The Dales Dippers wild swimming group are facing near- freezing water temperatures, snow, ice and Covid restrictions, clad only in their swimming costumes and the occasional bobble hat, to raise money for Crisis.
The annual January Daily Dip event is now in its fourth year, with the group raising more than £ 30,000 so far.
Les Peebles, a wild swimming guide in the Yorkshire Dales, said he enjoys swimming in waterfalls and rivers and is “unbearable” if he misses a day in the open water.
He said: “I heard a friend of mine say recently that wild swimming is like a free drug, a free legal drug, and that’s what it is.
“Of course it’s an adrenaline rush, it’s great for your mental
After I’ve been in for a swim I feel bright and bushy. Les Peebles, a wild swimming guide in the Yorkshire Dales.
health, after I’ve been in for a swim I feel bright and bushy, feel like I’m ready to take on the day.
“The benefits are all round and physically it’s good for you as well, of course the exercise as well as the cold water.”
Mr Peebles said membership of the group’s Facebook page had risen from around 1,000 at the beginning of 2020, to almost 4,000 members, which he said was testament to people wanting to stay local during lockdown.
And he said it was “really important” to support Crisis after a year which had seen people losing their jobs and their homes.
He said: “Crisis needs the funds to continue to support people because people are losing their jobs, losing their homes, especially in the last 12 months more than ever, so that’s why it’s really important to us to keep supporting them.”
The group had raised more than £ 7,700 yesterday.
For more information about the challenge, go to www. justgiving. com/ fundraising/ januarydailydip21.