An “Icebreaker Challenge” swim at the Brockwell Lido on Saturday (3 December) kicks off two months of fundraising for Crisis, the national homelessness charity.
It is calling on people to take on its challenge to help Crisis support people at Christmas, and all year round to move out of homelessness for good.
Icebreaker Challenge events continue nationally until 29 January.
All that’s needed is to swim a width of the pool in the solo event or to sign up with four friends to swim a width each for the relay event and get sponsored to raise money to help people experiencing homelessness this winter.
There is evidence to suggest cold water swimming can help with mental and physical health. Many people have found that it can also aid their bodies to deal with stress while endorphins leave them with a post-swim high.
Richard Lee, Crisis director of fundraising, said: “Homelessness can and should be ended.
“No-one should have to sleep out on the street in the freezing cold this winter, or at any other time of year.
“That’s why we need as many people as possible to join us for the Icebreaker challenge. By jumping in you can make a huge difference to someone’s life and help raise money to assist us in supporting people in need this Christmas and all-year-round.”
Crisis said that this Christmas however, thousands of families and individuals across Britain will experience the worst forms of homelessness, including sleeping on the streets, sofa surfing, or being stuck in crowded B&Bs and hostels, with no end in sight.
Others will be worrying about how they are going to pay the rent as inadequate pay and rising bills push more and more people to the brink of homelessness.
