What is a traditional Christmas? I guess it’s different for everyone, depending on your religious beliefs (or lack of), your family set up, the traditions that have been handed down through the generations, whether there’s anything good on telly… You know the drill. For some people, though, tradition in the strict sense doesn’t always mean traditional. For some people it’s about doing something different, about thinking of others and about getting utterly ruddy freezing!
Hats off then, people, to the Christmas Day swimmers. Eschewing shrivelled veg and frozen sausages in blankets <ahem>, these hardy souls take to the waves of the North Sea in a crazy fun-filled throng and raise money for local and national charities.
The Hunstanton Christmas swim is an event, now more than 50 years old, that I used to go and watch (important distinction that, watching, not taking part) and this year promises to see more swimmers than ever brave the waves. Participants in this years swim may want to check out the great range of electric blankets and heating solutions at our Hunstanton store! Over the border, into Suffolk, and Hughes’ answer to David & Victoria, Fred & Ginger, Jay-Z & Beyonce, Tristan & Isolde, Elizabeth Bennet & Darcy… umm, Marge & Homer… Emma & James (from our Ipswich office) will be running into the sea at Felixstowe and having a refreshing* swim – on Christmas Day – to raise vital funds for the St Elizabeth Hospice. The team from our Felixstowe store will be cheering them on (from the warmth & comfort of their homes) and wish all the swimmers lots of luck!
St Elizabeth Hospice improves life for people living with a progressive illness. Their work is centred around an individual’s needs, which means specialist support, wherever it is required. They care for people at home, in the community or at the Hospice and help people deal with problems such as pain, anxiety and fatigue, as well as offering practical advice and family support.
St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent charity which provides services free of charge. Their services cost £9.1 million a year to run, with almost three quarters of that figure coming from the local community. As such, they rely on fundraising, donations and volunteers so we say GOOD LUCK to Emma & James, we’ll be thinking of you!
To donate to Emma & James’ appeal for St Elizabeth Hospice, click here. Thank you.
*See also: freezing, bracing, insane
