Jenny Cook's fundraiser

I did it!!

Tuesday 24th Feb

Each year I choose a challenge to complete, to raise money for a charity, and this year I chose to register for the Cold Water Dip Challenge for Children & Young People Cancer Charity. Here is a bit of information about them.

 

World Cancer Day Dip

Who we are

When a child is diagnosed with cancer it threatens everything, for them and their family. At a time when they should be busy being children, enjoying their rollercoaster teenage years or finding their feet at uni, life becomes full of fear. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, of overwhelming money worries, mental health stretched to breaking point, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we get that. We are the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them.

We know everyone’s different, so we work hard to make sure each family has what they need to get through cancer. It could be a financial grant for a parent struggling to keep their child warm through their treatment or for a young person who can’t afford to get to hospital. Or helping a family stay together at one of our free Homes from Home close to the hospital where their child is having treatment.

And if we think families aren’t being heard by the whole system, we’re not afraid to raise their voices or shout on their behalf. Children and young people with cancer deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. We’ll always have their back, because we’ve been there before.

Powered by the kindness of our supporters, we’ll face it all together.

 

 

 

Although the Cold Water Dip was booked for 4.2.26, you can do it anytime so I chose to do mine in Scotland whilst on holiday for the February half term break. My thinking was, complete the challenge in a beautiful Loch, amazing scenery surrounded by mountains and nature. What I didn’t fully appreciate was how cold it might be in Scotland in February, I will come to that later.

 

I registered for the challenge and set up my page, set my fundraising target at £150 and started planning.

Donations started to come in, my official Cold Water Dip Swim hat arrived, the date was set, I had spent my christmas cash on some outdoor swimming kit, I was ready to go.

 

We arrived in Scotland to a fresh layer of snow, icey roads and temperatures below freezing, it looked magical. Scotland never fails to take my breath away and this visit was no different (literally). I always say that a visit to Scotland is “good for the soul”

 

The day of the dip was booked for our last day of the holiday, Friday 20^th February. My family who was with me,  pledged their support to do the dip with me, including my 10 year old Granddaughter, which was lovely, I would have company on the day and more motivation to complete the challenge.

 

So we get to the day of the dip. Up to this day we had been so lucky with the weather, sun, blue skies, occasional snow that looked beautiful but didn’t stop us going out and doing our activities. But not today. Cold, raining, windy, we couldn’t have chosen a worse day to do the dip. Don’t get me wrong, Scotland is beautiful no matter what the weather but cold and raining was not what we wanted. However, we were doing it anyway!

 

So, Four of us stood ready, the fifth member was official photographer. The four brave dippers decided that if we all held hands,  we would all do it together and no-one could back out.

 

We entered the water, screams came from everyone as the cold registered, we were then only ankle deep, and as I ploughed on, the grip on my left hand loosened as my Granddaugter called it quits, her mum following very closely behind. Only two were now left, and we started to step onto rocks as we made our way out into the loch. I had swim socks on, but they provided no support for the rough rocks, however, my one remaining dipper was managing surprisingly well. I asked her what she was wearing as I definitely needed to get a pair of those, it was then she discovered, she had forgotten to remove her new slippers, a gift from her hubby, that she had worn to walk down to the Loch in. OOPs, A few expletives were definitely heard amongst the laughter.

 

We got to our waists, still laughing at the slipper incident, that she was still wearing by the way! But, here she stopped, no more she declared as she released my hand and left me to it.

 

I continued on alone, thinking of my amazing sponsors and what good their donations were doing for the charity, the cold was taking hold but determined, I turned to the camera and fully dipped into the water. Oh it was super cold, people passing by were looking at me like I had lost all my remaining marbles, some however, did clap and cheer me on.

 

The deed was done, I made my way back to the shore, where I was very quick to put on my lovely new, sheep skin lined trousers and jacket. Warm and toasty in no time at all.

 

I had done it. It was an emotional moment for me, as a person with physical and mental health disabilities, I face many challenges,  but this was an extra proud moment as I reflected back on my achievement, and also what it meant to those who needed, and relied on the Charity funds to get through their cancer journey.  

 

Thankfully, I had photographic evidence to prove I did it.

 

I uploaded the photo on the charity site and on Facebook, not a flattering photo, no photographer could make us look glamerous with those swim hats on!!  And bless her, my photographer failed to get the shot of me doing the full dip, as she was still laughing at the very soggy slippers.

 

Thankfully though, it was good enough to share. My sponsors sent their congratulations and more donations came in.

 

To date I have raised £148 against my target of £150 but have more cash donations to add on (from family members who don’t do digital payments ha ha)

 

When you see what good the donations can be spent on and how it supports families through the most difficult of journeys, it was worth every moment of the cold dip, and, the additional cost of a new pair of slippers, as they didn’t make it home. They were left behind in the bin, as spoils of the event, nothing could save them unfortunately, but their sacrifice had provided a really good laugh and a great memory to look back on.  

 

Thank you so much for reading my story, I hope it made you smile and maybe, even inspired you to see what other activities are out there, there so many challenges available throughout the year that can suit all levels of abilities. I hope you find one that you can do, enjoy and experience that moment when you achieve your goals.

 

Jenny Cook

 

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