'Dig deep, swim colder, and support charities' - Ellie's Icebreaker

Alice Du Port, Community & Events Executive

22.09.2022

Ellie is a keen swimmer, adding locations and challenges to her ever-growing bucket list for the last four years. Last year, she took part in Icebreaker and joined a community of like-minded people all raising money to help people take their first steps out of homelessness. Read about her challenge below and you might be inspired to take an icy dip yourself!

"As a mature mental health nurse, I’m aware of the challenges people face with their mental health, vulnerabilities, and social circumstances. I’ve supported and worked with local homelessness services professionally over many years.

I started open water swimming over four years ago after seeing a notice in a swimming shop in the Lake District, and thought it was something I could add to my ever-growing bucket list. I found a local outdoor swimming group, and it began!

After doing a taster swim, I began raising money for a small mental health charity. I raised £5k and completed three open-water swims in 24 hours across England, Scotland, and Wales. When I saw the Icebreaker challenge, I thought I would give it a go!

I knew my Twitter contacts would support me, so in 2020 I used social media to spread the word about my challenge. I asked for donations instead of Christmas cards. I would swim every Sunday throughout December, ending with a synchronised swim as a finale. That worked so well, and I was so pleased by how many people supported me.

2021 took more imagination to get people to donate using social media again (secretly hoping people would forget they gave last year and donate again!)

I challenged myself to do an Icebreaker swim in Aviemore on Boxing Day, knowing the water temperature would be about 0 degrees! I quickly reached my target and my son said If I reached £400, he would join me. My daughter-in-law raised it to £700 and my daughter (who never swims) said she would join as well if I hit £1,000 which I quickly did, raising a total of £1352.

Boxing Day at Loch Inch was freezing. To say we swam would be an exaggeration, but we certainly waded into the icy water and dipped under.

I do think there are increasing challenges in getting people to put their hands in their pockets and donate so I try to be creative with my challenges.  I think this winter will be hard, but that makes it even more important to dig deep, or swim colder, and support charities.

Icebreaker was great for me as I love cold water, I love swimming, and I certainly love a challenge. I like being part of a community and raising the message of how important it is to support Crisis. I will wear my Crisis swimming cap with pride!"