HUNDREDS of fundraisers took the plunge into the chilly North Sea for the annual Boxing Day dip.
Many of the brave people taking part in the festivities donned festive fancy dress as they submerged themselves in the waves at North East beaches yesterday.
Crowds gathered at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea in Northumberland to cheer on the hardy dippers as they made their mad dash into the water despite the extreme winds.
It was a family affair for the Storey’s from nearby Bedlington who teamed up for the fifth year running to take part in the swim.
Shawn and Angela Storey were joined by sons Ian, Simon and Andrew who wore elf hats and trunks as they waded into the water to help raise funds for the couple to travel to Africa to do volunteer work.
Angela, 47, said: “This is the fifth year in a row we’ve done the dip and it’s a really fun thing to do.
“We always make sure we have a swim before we get out and we try to dress up.”
Factory worker Jonny Millican, of Ashington, Northumberland, is no stranger to the annual event.
The 27-year-old said: “I’ve done this for the last four years to raise money for St Oswald’s Hospice and I swear it’s getting colder each year.
“Last year I was the first one in and the first one out and this year I just dived in and dived straight out.”
However, Lisa Seccombe managed to withstand the challenge for a lot longer.
The 37-year-old of Ashington, who did the dip with friends Susan Lockyer, 61, and Gillian Tipple, 52, said: “We were in the longest out of everybody. All the young lads were just dipping their toes in but we had our shoulders in.”
Lisa, a social worker, hopes to raise between £150 to £200 for Cancer Research UK in memory of a close friend she lost.
In Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, around 130 people took part in the annual Boxing Day dip helping to raise more than £1,000 for the North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards (NSVL). Friends Craig Mulvaney, 35, and Erik Coleman, 48, turned heads with their wacky costumes as Craig donned a Baywatch-style swim suit with fake breasts, while Erik wore a thong and a wig with shoulder-length curly hair.
The pair have been taking part in the festive dip for four years.
Erik, a print manager in North Shields, said: “It was absolutely freezing, but still not as cold as last year.
“We always pick a different costume. It’s all good fun.”
Also participating were Julia Sharp, 42, Louise Tupling, 45, and her niece Anna Tupling, 19. They have been trying to raise funds for Asthma UK and Kidney Research UK through various events.
Louise, of Whitley Bay, who works for the youth offending service in Sunderland, said: “We enjoyed the dip. It’s great to do something like this after sitting around on Christmas Day.”
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