A LOCAL mental health charity is calling on the public to get together with friends and make a festive splash to support its services.
The annual sea event takes place at Crawfordsburn beach on Sunday, December 1st, from 10.30am -12.30pm in support of Newtownards-based Action Mental Health.
Action Mental Health’s head of communications and fundraising, Jonathan Smyth, said one in five adults in Northern Ireland will show signs of a mental illness at some point in their lives, while one in eight children will experience emotional issues.
Registration for the splash opens at 10.30am, with a pre-water warm-up at 10.45am in the form of some dance from Gill Drummond Zumba.
The dip itself will take place at 11.05am, following a safety briefing, with participants able to enjoy some music from the Bangor Ukes between 11am-11.30am.
A team from the Clandeboye Lodge will then be on hand with free tea, coffee and sweet treats to help warm up everyone after the dip.
The festive splash is open to anyone over the age of 18 and, in a change from previous years, children aged 12 years and over are now also welcome to take part, with adults able to purchase a ticket for them when registering online.
As an extra incentive for all hardy dippers, those who fundraise a minimum of £50 will receive a free purple Action Mental Health beanie.
There will be plenty of professional backup on the day, with boat support from Safer Waters, along with lifeguards from outdoor activity provider, Active Adventures NI, while there will also be first aid support on hand from Proparamedics.
To sign up for Action Mental Health’s Festive Splash go to https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ActionMentalHealthsFestiveSplash
Cap: Supporters of Action Mental Health are encouraging others to join the festive splash at Crawfordsburn beach.
