Tuesday 28 January 2014

Hoffy's Chilly Dip 2014 - Getting closer...


Well, preparations for the 2014 Chilly Dip are well under way, but I have hit a slight snag. I am on a course in London on the day off the actual swim, so I will be doing it on my own on the previous Friday, February 21st, 2014. Just gives me two less days to prepare!

I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored me so far, having already reached £190 of my £250 target! Thank you again, and if you would like to sponsor me, please do so by clicking on the link below:-


Tuesday 14 January 2014

Hoffy's Chilly Dip 2014!

 Hoffy's JustGiving Page
Well, it's been a long time since my last cold water swim, but when the lovely Lucy Alfred, Design and Events Officer at St. Nicholas Hospice Care (SNHC) in Bury St Edmunds, e-mailed me and asked if I would be interested in a 10 length swim at 6 degrees Centigrade, how could I possibly refuse? So, here we are, with just over a month until the big day, on a positively beautiful sunny but cold January day, launching the event.

This morning at 11:00am 5 barmy people, myself included, wearing nothing but speedos, bikinis, swimming costumes, snorkles, goggles, ear muffs, hats and scarves, assembled in an inflatable paddling pool at St Nicholas Hospice before the town's media, well a photographer from the Bury Free Press at least, to encourage people to raise money for this fantastic charity - my favourite!

Left to right: Simon Bridle & Lucy Alfred (SNHC), Yours Truly, Camille Ives and Aaron Bridgeforth (SNHC) dipping our toes into the pool earlier today to launch the swim.

St Nicholas Hospice Care in my hometown of Bury St Edmunds, works compassionately in the fields of life-threatening illness, death and bereavement and needs to raise a staggering £11,000 per day to cover their costs. The hospice provides practical, medical and spiritual support to local people and their families living with an illness that is life threatening; such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, heart or lung disease. I am hoping to raise a minimum of £250 toward this cost, and would appreciate your help with sponsorship.

It really is not a challenge for the faint hearted, as the water will be very cold, but it will certainly be invigorating and satisfying one we have completed the challenge.  Please feel free to sponsor me on my just giving website which can be found here:-


If you would like to join in this swim, then you can do so by filling in the application form online here:-


Event Details:-

Sunday 23rd February at Moreton Hall Health Club, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7BL at 11:00am.

I would like to thank Culford School Sports and Tennis Centre for the use of their fantastic swimming facilities to train for this event.