Viking Day Unit team plan a chilly charity dip

Two health workers will start their 50th birthday year by taking a freezing dip in the sea to raise money for cancer patients.

Carrie Merry, chemotherapy matron at East Kent Hospitals, and healthcare assistant Kerry Tolley will brave the chilly waters off Ramsgate main sands on New Year’s Day. They will be joined by chemotherapy sister Izzy Cousins.

They hope to raise £1,000 for East Kent Hospitals Charity, to benefit 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, which offers treatment for people with cancer, until she took up her matron post.

She said: “We have a lot of patients who like cold water swimming and I made a jokey comment about joining them, and starting off our 50th birthday year in style.

“Suddenly it all became real and now we will find ourselves submerged in the sea at the coldest time of year.

“We’ve committed to doing it properly, so we will be going in up to our shoulders, and some of the staff who won’t be working will be coming along to support us.

“At least it will be over quickly; it’s not like we are running a marathon, but the nearer it gets the more I start to regret mentioning it!”

You can add to their sponsorship online or there are donation buckets and a card reader in the unit, and there will also be donation buckets on the day.