During the restrictions of 2020 I decided to take on the Gold Polar Bear Challenge to raise money for the Samaritans and the Colchester Buddhist Centre. In total I raised £2588.80 to support the excellent work of these charities.
As an ordained member of the Triratna Buddhist Order I have helped support many online meditation classes as well as sessions to help people look at life in a different way. These have all been run by the Colchester Buddhist Centre.
When my Dad died in June 2021 I completed the Arctic Polar Bear Challenge raising money for St Helena Hospice as well as the Colchester Buddhist Centre, raising over £2,300 for the two charities.
This winter I am taking to the cold sea once more again aiming to complete the Arctic Polar Bear Challenge and raising money for Brightlingsea Winterfest’s Wellbeing Fund. The challenge involves swimming a total monthly distance of 3000 metres every month from November to March, wearing just my usual trunks, single pink hat, goggles, noseclip and earplugs. Nothing to protect my hands and feet and absolutely no neoprene in sight!
All swims need to be reported to the organisers and you can check my progress at the official online swim list.
Each time I swim I will be posting details of the conditions and if my hands still work in the cold, the odd photo too!
