Hundreds Take the Plunge in Christmas Day Dip!
Hundreds of St Elizabeth Hospice supporters braved the North Sea chill this Christmas, to raise vital funds for the hospice as its Christmas Day Dip returned for the twentieth time.
The event saw over 650 ‘dippers’ don a range of fancy dress and Christmas themed outfits before plunging into the icy cold sea at Felixstowe beach to raise funds, through sponsorship, for St Elizabeth Hospice which every year delivers free care to over 4,000 patients and their families throughout East & Mid- Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
James Fox-Golding, Events and Challenges Manager at the hospice, said: “A massive well done and thank you to all our incredible dippers who took part in this year’s Christmas Day Dip – which saw a record number of dippers braving the chill for the hospice!
“A special thanks also goes to our amazing supporters and volunteers, whose efforts made the event possible and created such a fantastic festive atmosphere.
“On behalf of everyone at the hospice, I’d like to wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Your continued generosity enables us to provide vital care across the region, and we are so thankful for the incredible community support we receive year after year.”
The St Elizabeth Hospice Christmas Day Dip 2024 took place on Christmas Day at 10am, opposite Mannings Amusement on Felixstowe seafront.
One brave dipper who took the plunge for St Elizabeth Hospice was Ross Dowsing, who was raising funds for the charity in memory of his mum, Heather, who received support from the hospice in 2023 before her death.
He said: “What a fantastic morning with a brilliant atmosphere. The water was very cold but also refreshing – it certainly woke me up!
“I am so proud to support the hospice in any way I can. The whole charity is amazing, and they gave such brilliant, compassionate care to my mum and our whole family. We can never thank them enough, but through taking part in fundraising events like the dip, we hope others too can benefit from the hospice’s services in our local community.”
Funds raised through the Christmas Day Dip will go towards the hospice’s Christmas fundraising campaign, Be a Star, which helps the hospice support hundreds of patients and their families over the Christmas period.
