Dolly Dippers wild swimmers donate over £3000 to Caithness Heart Support Group
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After announcing they had raised over £2000 for a local charity in September, two wild swimmers have now tallied up the new total – standing at £3050.
While many were keeping warm indoors through the festive break, Jacqueline Mackay and Elaine Rosie – known as the Dolly Dippers – were plunging into cold Caithness waters.
The Dolly Dippers join many others throughout the country who lust after wild waters to swim in but took it a stage further last year to raise money for the Caithness Heart Support Group (CHSG).
Elaine and Jacqueline undertook the challenge of completing 12 coastal dips in one day – each lasting no less than ten minutes. Starting at Castlehill Harbour, Castletown and finishing at the North Baths in Wick. They did this in a time of 7 hours and 14 minutes.
Having set up a crowdfunding page with the hope of raising £250, donations came flooding in and on the day of the dips they had broken the £1000 mark when they started their eighth dip at Reiss beach. The donations continued and the tally reached over £2600.
The Dippers decided to try and reach a new target of £3000 and decided to hold a Christmas raffle. The final cheque of £3050 was recently handed over to CHSG volunteers Robin More, Bob Bell and Joyce Macdonald on a very cold and windy day at the North Baths.
Elaine and Jacqueline say they have been overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who donated and bought raffle tickets for "this very worthwhile charity".
The Dippers would also like to pass on their heartfelt thanks to everyone – including family, friends and colleagues – who provided so much support on the day of the dips and kindly donated prizes for the raffle.
"We couldn’t have done it without them," said Elaine.
Related article:
Big hearted Dolly Dippers do a dozen dips for a good cause
