Hundreds of swimmers expected to take part in Christmas Day Dip in aid of Christchurch hospice Macmillan Unit

HUNDREDS of swimmers are expected to take part in this year's Christmas Day dip which raises money for a hospice in Christchurch.

Cousins Tommy Baker and John White from Bournemouth came up with the idea for the event – which takes place off Boscombe Pier – in 2008.

The pair, both keen swimmers, had been joined by six friends for the initial White Christmas Dip to raise money for the Macmillan Unit hospice in Christchurch as John’s father, also called John, had been successfully treated for cancer.

The event now attracts hundreds of participants and their supporters, many in elaborate fancy dress, and more than £250,000 has been raised to date for Macmillan Caring Locally, which supports the Christchurch unit in caring for over 1,600 terminally ill people and their families each year.

Tommy said: "The current financial climate is making fundraising by charities like Macmillan Caring Locally even more difficult – fundraising is what enables the unit to help so many people when they need it the most.

"We were also forced to cancel the dip for the first time in its history in 2020 because of covid, losing an estimated £50,000 for the charity.

"So this Christmas Day we are determined to finally shake off the shadow of covid, get out there with our friends and families, have some fun and raise as much as we can for this amazing hospice.

"We have around 300 people signed up already and we hope many more people will join us for a Christmas morning to remember."

Trust secretary of the Macmillan Caring Locally charity, Neal Williams, said: "Tommy and John are our absolute heroes.

"The White Christmas Dip is our biggest fundraising event and without the two of them driving this forward it would not have been the massive success it is.

"We hope people will join them and the many of us from the unit for this amazing event. It wouldn’t be Christmas without it!"

The event takes place at 9.45am and costs £5. To sign up visit www.whitechristmasdip.co.uk