
DONAGHADEE’S Chunky Dunkers ‘12 swims of Christmas’ has raised £10,000, with the money being split between a church foodbank and an animal shelter.
The Dunkers – believed to be the longest-standing cold water swimming group in Northern Ireland – have a strict ‘skins only’ policy, and enter the waters off the coast of Donaghadee every day of the year.
The annual ‘12 swims of Christmas’ is their main fundraising event for local charities, and the 2024 challenge saw £5,000 each being donated to the foodbank at Donaghadee’s Shore Street Presbyterian Church, and the Barn Animal Sanctuary near Carrowdore.
The figure marks the largest amount raised by the Chunky Dunkers in a single year; over the last decade, the group has raised a total of £75,000.
After the presentations were made to the foodbank and The Barn, on Friday, January 3, the group took part in their ‘daily dunk’, despite the Arctic-type conditions.
The swimming group’s founder, Martin Strain said: “Despite family finances seemingly getting tighter and tighter every year, amazingly this year’s figure represents the largest amount of money we have ever received.
“I feel it is only right that we take a few moments to acknowledge and express our gratitude to each and every person who has helped us in any way, towards this fabulous total.
“Obviously, there are way too many involved for us to thank individually, but collectively we would like to thank you if you were involved in any of this year’s efforts,” he added.