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Hundreds across England take part in New Year dips | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of people across England have taken to the sea in fundraising New Year dips. | |
One of the largest took place in Gosport, Hampshire, where 384 bathers swam the Solent to raise cash for a lifeboat charity. | |
More than 150 people in Whitley Bay were serenaded by pop-up choir as they took to the near-freezing North Sea. | |
In Scarborough, members of the town's Lions Club also took to the sea to raise cash for local charities. | |
The Gosport event, at Stokes Bay raises about £4,000 each year for the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (Gafirs). | |
Fundraising officer James Baggott said: "It's one of those strange, local traditions where people in the local area decide to take a dip in the Solent - but it's a great way for us of raising funds and showing the local community that we are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on duty to save lives. | |
"We are not part of the RNLI so events like this are really important for us to raise money." | |
Participant Jade Slater, 21, a student nurse, said: "I always take part, it's a bit crazy but it's great fun and a great way to start the new year and to raise money for charity as well." | |
The Gafirs independent lifeboat station is run by 90 volunteers who last year gave 12,000 hours of their time to the service. | |
In Whitley Bay, bathers, many from the town's Panama Swimming Club, which was formed 87 years ago, used the event to raise cash for a range of local charities. | |
This year they were joined by dozens of singers who formed a pop-up choir to serenade the swimmers. | This year they were joined by dozens of singers who formed a pop-up choir to serenade the swimmers. |
Musician Beccy Owens, which organised the singing group, also collected money for local charities. | Musician Beccy Owens, which organised the singing group, also collected money for local charities. |
Ms Owens said: "Our pop-up choir brings together people of all ages and abilities and backgrounds, working and sharing together in song and laughter. | Ms Owens said: "Our pop-up choir brings together people of all ages and abilities and backgrounds, working and sharing together in song and laughter. |
"I've been so impressed and heartened on hearing what courage and sensitivity can be conjured by veritable strangers who come together in song. | "I've been so impressed and heartened on hearing what courage and sensitivity can be conjured by veritable strangers who come together in song. |
"We've helped to raise hundreds for charity and feel very glad and grateful to be able to support local causes in this way." | "We've helped to raise hundreds for charity and feel very glad and grateful to be able to support local causes in this way." |
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