Fancy dress swimmers take the plunge at Stokes Bay (From This is Hampshire)

Fancy dress swimmers take the plunge at Stokes Bay

10:26am Saturday 2nd January 2010

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IT was undoubtedly the coolest way to see in the New Year.

Dozens of intrepid fundraisers across Hampshire were sure to get rid of any hangovers when they braved an icy dip in freezing waters in the name of raising cash for charity.

It turned out to be a recordbreaking year for the popular Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service’s annual plunge at Stokes Bay with a staggering 262 daredevils braving the Solent.

Watched by more than 2,000 spectators on the Leeon- the-Solent foreshore the fancy-dress clad dippers dived and dunked their way into the 10 degree waters, raising lots of cash for a number of different charities as they went.

The crowds were also treated to a rescue demonstration by HM Coastguard while the brave fundraisers had access to warm showers thanks to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

More than £4,500 was raised for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent in Hamble when 30 plucky people got in fancy dress and ran shivering into the river.

Even the managing director of John Lewis in Southampton Mark Venables donned his tuxedo and wife Tracey got back into her wedding dress to take part in the chilling challenge.

Sponsored by John Lewis, the event, cheered on by hundreds of people, was hailed as a great success by organiser Emma Hindley, of CLIC Sargent. She said: “It was absolutely freezing but it was well worth it.”

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