Around 40 men, many in their 40s, gathered at Cullercoats Pier early Saturday morning, June 20, for a sunrise dip in the North Sea aimed at promoting mental health awareness and encouraging men to speak up and support each other. The event included current and former paratroopers, tradesmen, and some of their children.
Life-Changing Cold Water Immersion
Lee Donald, 47, from Wallsend, has been sea dipping for four years after a friend introduced him. He described the experience as life-changing. "A lot of the lads have been through mental health or had addiction. A couple have had family members pass away, so they've changed their life round by going to the gym and dipping. It's just a group of lads that are like-minded with each other. It's a positive vibe for everybody," Donald told ChronicleLive.
One participant who is terminally ill led a prayer for the group. Donald said the dip "was powerful" and "lush to see."
Building a Supportive Community
The group formed after Donald reconnected with an old friend at the gym and invited him to join a dip. That friend brought others, and the community grew. "We lost touch a little bit obviously with busy work and family life, it gets in the way sometimes," Donald explained. "I was in the gym once with my friend Scott I'd bumped into again and said 'why don't you come down for a dip' and he's brought more lads along. I think it's changed the lives of a lot of the lads. They've got a better outlook for life."
Plans for Annual Event
The group aims to make the dip an annual event to raise more awareness and has been approached by suicide prevention charity The Red Bench project. "We're going to make it bigger and get more lads involved," Donald said.
After the dip, the men go for coffee and chat. "Everyone says the same thing," Donald joked before they take the plunge. "They go 'I don't like the cold.' I'd said to one of the lads, no one actually likes the cold, but the joy you get after it, it's the happiness and the buzz you get. We all then go for a coffee and have a chat with each other and it starts your day off brilliant. You can't get a better way to start your day if I'm honest. It's totally beneficial, we love it, it's absolutely mint."
Community Support
Donald emphasized the importance of connection. "The group that we've got, if anyone needs any help we all chip in, everyone helps each other its a good little community."
