Call to would-be Burghead Boxing Day dippers

WOULD-BE Boxing Day dippers are being nudged to take the plunge into Burghead harbour this year.

Burghead Boxing Day Swim president Jamie Campbell said: "We hope that the public will come and support us, as they always do, and that we raise as much money as possible for Keiran's Legacy, Marie Curie and Burghead Sub Aqua Club.

"If people have been and never jumped and have always thought about it then maybe this year they should take the plunge – completely safe with divers and a boat in the water.

"We look forward to welcoming all the Moray folk to Burghead."

The swim will get under way at 2.30pm on the day, when entrants can register between noon-1.45pm at the harbour office. Sponsorship forms can be downloaded from www.burgheadboxingdayswim.co.uk/

Two raffles will be running – a big raffle and a whisky raffle, with top prizes including a whisky hamper worth over £200. Hot food will be available for spectators and to warm up participants post-dip, and children can take their chances with a lucky dip.

Uncertainty surrounded the annual fundraising dip earlier this year after organisers took a stand against paying a £100 harbour licensing fee agreed by Moray Council in February. The local authority introduced the flat fee for community and charity events at its six harbours.

Swim organisers accused the council of "penny-pinching" but confirmed in late October that the swim would still go ahead after some doubt. However, swim organisers said they would not pay the levy – either this year or in the future.

The swim is in its 34th year and has raised nearly £250,000 for charities over that time, putting all the cash towards Moray-linked causes. Last year's dip raised £21,500 for Abbie's Sparkle Foundation, Burghead Parent and Toddlers, and Burghead Coastal Rowing Club.

Email burgheadboxingdayswim@outlook.com for more information.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.