New Year's dip raises thousands for cancer patients

A terrific trio raised three times their fundraising target after completing a chilly dip in the sea.

Carrie Merry, chemotherapy matron, healthcare assistant Kerry Tolley, and chemotherapy sister Izzy Cousins braved the freezing waters off Ramsgate on Sunday to raise money for East Kent Hospitals Charity.

Carrie and Kerry will turn 50 this year and wanted to start their birthday year with a bang, and raise money for cancer patients at the Viking Day Unit at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, where Kerry and Izzy work. Carrie was manager of the unit until she took up her matron role.

Carrie said: “The support we received was amazing and we are so grateful to everyone who has sponsored us.

“It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be so now I’m thinking it could be an annual event.

“The idea came from some of our patients who like cold water swimming, and I initially joked that I could join them to start off our 50th birthday year in style, and then suddenly it all became real!

“But we’re delighted with how much we raised and we know it will make a real difference to our patients.”

The friends had initially hoped to raise £1,000, but have now surpassed £3,000 with online donations and in buckets on the unit and on the beach on the day. You can still add to their sponsorship online at https://www.justgiving.com/page/carrie-merry-1733228562780.

The dip took place on Sunday, 5 January, after bad weather meant it could not go ahead on New Year’s Day as planned.

If you’d like to raise money for East Kent Hospitals Charity, you can find out more at https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/fundraise or sign up for an event at https://www.ekhcharity.org.uk/events/