An Eden woman has taken a chilly plunge every single day in 2024 to raise awareness of blood cancer.
Mandie Reay, who lives in Nenthead, took a cold water dip every day of the year in aid of the Blood Cancer UK charity.
Mandie’s husband, Andy, was diagnosed with blood cancer late in 2022. His prognosis is good although his cancer is not curable and he will be taking daily oral chemotherapy drugs for the rest of his life.
Thrombocythaemia is a cancer discovered in 2013. It causes too many platelets to be produced in the blood which can lead to an increased risk of blood clots.
Research into and awareness of these types of cancer are required and that is why Mandie set herself the challenge of doing a daily cold water dip every day in 2024 – 366 in total.
New Year’s Eve saw the last dip of the challenge take place in the River Nent. It has been a busy year for Mandie and her family, but she has managed to fit in a dip every day, no matter where she has been.
The dips have taken place in many settings, from their home overlooking Nenthead to various lakes and waterways in Cumbria and beyond — even in the East River in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge during a holiday in New York.
Dips have often included breaking the ice with a hammer before she was able to take the plunge. Family, friends and supporters gathered on the banks of the Nent to support her on her last one of the year.
Mandie said: “I can’t believe this is the final dip. I would like to thank everyone who has donated and attended my fundraising events — we have already raised over £5,000, which is way beyond the original £500 target I set myself.”
Donations can still be made at Mandie’s JustGiving page here.
“Although I will miss the daily dip, I won’t miss breaking through ice. I will still be taking dips, but only when I choose, not every day,” she added.
