Over 1300 Brave Naked Swimmers Take Icy Plunge for Charity in the UK
At sunrise on Sunday, as part of the annual North East Skinny Dip to mark the autumnal equinox, when summer transitions into winter, over 1300 nude participants were spotted on Druridge Bay Beach. They gathered for another massive charitable 'naked swim' event, aimed at raising funds for mental health organizations, according to British media reports.
On Sunday morning, crowds of hundreds of naked participants took the plunge into the sea in Northumberland as part of the North East Skinny Dip.
This marked the 11th annual mass dip, which has raised over £100,000 for Mind, a mental health charity, since its inception in 2012.
According to the organizers, "There's no better way to celebrate the autumnal equinox than by stripping off completely at dawn and running free into the North Sea with hundreds of other people."
Describing the event on their JustGiving page, participants noted, "It's a celebration of life! Of nature! And of our own unique physical bodies! It's about taking the risk and embracing the moment of pure joy and freedom!"
Swimmers could be seen wearing colorful wigs and even Hawaiian garlands. As the waves rolled in, participants could be seen running into the sea, holding hands and leaping for joy. Many of the participants were seasoned veterans of the event.
All participants gathered on the shore at 5:30 in the morning to witness a beautiful sunrise as the sun's rays broke through the clouds above... and then collectively dashed into the waves.
But it was "a bit chilly," as the water temperature barely rose above zero degrees Celsius – if not colder.
One first-time participant described it as an "exhilarating" experience and mentioned that they would likely return next year.
Peter Birkett, a "veteran" from last year, described it as an unforgettable experience. He said, "People who do it once always want to do it again."
"There are professionals, teachers, scientists, people from all walks of life," said one of the participants.
The naked dawn dash is the brainchild of Jax Higginson, inspired when she took part in a similar event in Hayle, Wales, in 2011.
The National Trust helps organize the event, and the funds raised will be split between their work on the Northumberland coast and the mental health charity, MIND.