FAQs

There is no fee; entry into this challenge is completely free.

Yes, you can take on this challenge as a team.

To make sure you can complete a dip every day in March, we recommend that you signed up by 28th February at the latest.

You'll receive a welcome email, with a link to your fundraising page, as soon as you have registered for the challenge.

You'll also be sent a paper tracking sheet via email which you can print off, for you to use to document all of your dips in March. However, if you would prefer us to send this out to you in the post then please let us know by emailing the team on fundraising@stwhospice.org.

Once you have started fundraising and raised your first £24, we'll send you a T-shirt, and then once you have raised £60 we'll send you a woolly hat to help keep your head warm when you're doing your cold water dips.

We are challenging people to take a cold water dip, plunge, swim or even a cold shower, every day throughout March.

This is challenging for most of us, as naturally we don't dwell in cold waters. And, we are asking you to do this every single day in March. So, it is a big challenge, but it will be well worth it when you have completed the challenge and feel brave, bold and hopefully no longer that cold.

And, you'll have taken it on to raise vital funds for hospice care.

The choice is yours.

We know it’s not always easy to make it to open water so you can mix in cold showers, ice baths and ice buckets.

You don’t have to stick to one type of dip; you can mix it up as much as you like!

The main thing is that you dip every day.

It's up to you, but if you dip your body into cold water for 30 seconds, then we think that counts as a cold dip.

Just remember to be safe and follow the RNLI guidelines for open water swimming, that we have shared on our 'Safety advice' page of the site.

Your fundraising target would still be £100 per person; if you were a team of three for example, the fundraising target would be £300.

The only difference is that you could share the dips out between you. As long as each day in March was covered by someone in the team taking a cold dip, that would count as completing the challenge - just together.

Of course, if you wanted to all do a dip every day in March, that would be fine too!

You can track your dips through posting photos and updates on your fundraising page.

You will also be provided with a Dip a Day tracker, which you can have at home and mark off every time you do a cold dip.

Your fundraising page is automatically created with a target amount of £100 which we would love it if you could aim to raise. You can of course increase your target if you want to, and aim even higher with your fundraising!

When you register on this platform, your fundraising page will automatically be created for you. You will receive an email with the link to your page, and you can update the page to add pictures and tell people why you are taking on the challenge.

Then, get sharing your page on your social media platforms and ask your friends and family for their support.

Yes you can raise funds offline, too.

You will find a downloadable sponsor form in the 'Resources' page of this site, which you can print off and use to collect sponsorship funds offline.

We can also provide you with a collection pot or bucket if you have a work place or community space that you can place it in to collect additional sponsorship cash and coins.

Once you've completed the challenge, just bring your cash donations, the sponsor form and any collection pots or buckets that you have, into the hospice and we will have it counted and will add it together with any online donations you have.

By taking part in A Dip a Day in March and raising sponsorship funds, you will be supporting the clinical teams at St Wilfrid's Hospice to provide end of life care to people in our community, who need it. You are also enabling the hospice to provide counselling support to patients and bereavement support for those who have lost a loved one.

To find out more about what St Wilfrid's Hospice does, and how the funds you raise will help, visit our About Us page.

To help you raise your goal of £100, we will send you encouraging emails along the way. Within your dashboard you'll find a downloadable sweepstake form, which you can use to engage your friends and family in a fun way to support you with your fundraising.

You can get in touch with the Events Team if you have any questions or need more fundraising support, by calling 01323 434241 or emailing us at fundraising@stwhospice.org.

We ask that all A Dip a Day in March participants aim to get their sponsorship money to us by Thursday 30th April 2026.

We will of course still accept donations given to us after this date, but so that we can announce a final total raised from the challenge in May, it would be much appreciated if you could get all funds to us by the end of April.

There are various ways you that you can send us your offline fundraising:

Debit/Credit card: Pay over the phone or in person (by appointment) at the hospice

Cheque: Please make cheque payable to St Wilfrid's Hospice Eastbourne and post or deliver to the hospice at the following address: A Dip a Day in March, St Wilfrid's Hospice, 1 Broadwater Way, Eastbourne, BN22 9PZ. Please include your full name and address with your cheque to ensure that we can acknowledge your support.

Cash: Please call 01323 434241 to let us know that you're coming in to make your donation - The Fundraising Team are at the hospice Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm. 

Bank Transfer:

Account Number - 00810312
Sort Code - 20-27-91
Account Name - St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne)
Please use your surname as a reference so that we can match you with your donation.

Please email fundraising@stwhospice.org or call 01323 434241 to let us know you're making a donation via bank transfer so that we can acknowledge your support.

Online: stwhospice.org/donate - Make sure to include a reference to your name and A Dip a Day in March, so that we can thank you properly.

Cold water swimming offers significant physical and mental health benefits, like boosting mood, improving circulation, and building resilience.

It also carries risks such as cold shock and hypothermia, making it imperative that you follow safety guidelines.

Anyone with a pre-existing heart condition should always consult their doctor before cold dipping, due to the sudden increase in blood pressure and heart rate that cold water swimming can cause.

Cold water swimming poses significant risks for those with heart conditions, triggering a "cold shock" response that drastically raises heart rate and blood pressure, potentially causing arrhythmias or cardiac arrest

Therefore, anyone with a pre-existing heart condition should always consult their doctor before cold dipping, due to the sudden increase in blood pressure and heart rate that cold water swimming can cause.

Familiarise yourself with the location of nearby lifeguard stations or emergency services. Having someone with you is also advisable so that they can assist if needed, with the additional benefit of having your own personal cheerleader!

In cold water, stay relatively close to the shore so you can return to the shore quickly when you are ready to leave.

Sudden immersion causes a gasp reflex, hyperventilation, and panic; gradual entry helps manage this. Get in the water slowly, gradually introducing each part of your body. Breathe slowly to help prevent more serious reactions.

Know your own limits and listen to advice from officials regarding weather and water conditions.

Never enter open water if you have been advised not to, or if you feel the conditions could be dangerous based on your own personal skill level and experience.

Arrive warm, get ready to swim quickly, rather than standing around on the shore in your swimwear. 

Even in cold water, your body can become dehydrated. Drink water before and after your swim to stay properly hydrated.

To help restore your warmth, bring extra layer(s) for your top half, a warm hat, socks and gloves, and a hot drink too, which will no doubt be a welcome treat after your dip!

As soon as you get out of the water, focus on getting dressed above anything else.

Take clothes with you that are easy to put on quickly; think loose layers and stay away from fiddly zips and buckles.

The quickest way to properly warm up after you swim is exercise. Once dressed and recovered, a brisk walk or some running on the spot will have you feeling warm again in no time.