I’m going to spend the winter doing a little project to highlight a local organisation that has been a great support for our family.  My aim is to swim in water ten degrees or colder (lakes/sea etc) for as close to ten minutes as possible each time, at least once a week and to donate ten pounds to Cancercare -  https://www.cancercare.org.uk/ each time I manage it.

Hence 10x10x10. 

The aim is to do this from 1st December to the 28th February 2021 and without the use of a wetsuit, largely because I’m not a fan of trying to get in to a wetsuit, not because it wouldn’t be a good idea. This is not particularly difficult, anyone can do it, and lots of people do it regularly for enjoyment and health benefits, it just requires a little acclimatisation, persistence and care.

I always figured if you want to do a fund/attention raising thing then you should try something you like doing, a cake eating competition, or a whisky tasting evening etc. As I’ve found a bit of a passion for cold water of late, I thought I’d do this because I’ll enjoy it and other people might be inclined to contribute ten pounds to Cancercare too, particularly given how local charities have struggled for income during this last year. So if you are able to donate £10 that would be wonderful.

If anyone wants to come along during the winter and take a dip with me (Covid restrictions permitting) I also promise it’ll be fun and I’ll happily share a flask of soup, and maybe some cake with you. Similarly if you want to invite me to a nice place to get in the water I’d very much welcome that too.

Hopefully I can also take some photographs and document this project as well as our own experiences of support from Cancercare through my photography blog, which you can find here: https://graemechesters.com/blog/

As a social scientist by training I am very interested in the popularity of outdoor swimming of all varieties and for all abilities, and the possible health and therapeutic benefits of cold water immersion. I would be keen to hear from people about their own experiences and motivations for swimming through winter and hope it might be beneficial to document some of these, so I am interested in stories people might want to share.

It should also be made clear that I’m not much of a ‘swimmer’ and defer to all those who can do the crawl for more than a length. I’m more of a meanderer who alternates between breast stroke and something that involves floating on my back. However, I have been practising and am reasonably acclimatised to the cold and will therefore be doing everything safely and with appropriate support.

If you would like more information, to come along for a swim/dip, or to invite me for a dip somewhere, please contact me via messenger or email - graeme@chesters.me

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