People in Whitby to run into North Sea today for Boxing Day dip

Whitby Lions has organised a Boxing Day dip today with people set to be in fancy dress

Author: Karen LiuPublished 26th Dec 2021

People in Whitby will be running into the sea today as part of the town's Boxing Day dip.

Whitby Lions is organising it with participants being urged to take part in fancy dress with prizes for the best.

It is being run under a different format due to Covid.

Brian Harrison is from there and said: "Previously you'd just raise sponsorship money but due to Covid, we've decided this year it's a £10 entry fee which goes directly to the club to support our charity work and then if you wanted to raise money through sponsorship, then you organise to send that to the charity of your choice yourself and that's how it's done this year.

"It's been going on for nearly 50 years now. Last year we had over 200 dippers taking part and people do fancy dress with prizes awarded for the best. In previous years we've had a team of Batman and Robin, a team of sharks, a team of traffic cones and we've even had a wedding proposal about two years ago.

"There's been about £14,000 to £15,000 over the recent years that people have raised for us. Obviously this year it'll probably be reduced due to Covid but we're expecting a couple of thousand pounds I think, which will help our charity work throughout the Whitby area where we help local causes.

"We're normally really fantastic supported on the day itself and in previous years, there's normally more or less over a thousand people who come down on Boxing Day morning. It's a great community event and Whitby tradition. It's a great opportunity to come down, have some fun and see some people run into the North Sea."

Registration opens at 10am at Whitby bandstand opposite the RNLI Museum on Pier Road and people can also just turn up today and take part.

Find out more here.

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