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VIDEO: Whitby Lions hoping for around £5,000 from Boxing Day dip
THE Thunderbirds, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White were just a few of the faces at this year's Boxing Day dip.
The event, organised by Whitby Lions, was a huge success with 150 people taking part and at least 1,500 turning up to watch.
Crowds gathered along the full length of the pier and Battery Parade, to watch the brave fund-raisers dash into the North Sea.
Among the colourful characters taking part this year was veteran Avril Mortimer (75) from Glaisdale who is believed to have been the oldest dipper.
Lions' member Chris Harrison told the Whitby Gazette: "Richard Jackson, our president was tricked on the day by his two daughters Melanie and Philippa.
"He had said he wouldn't go in unless he got a substantial offer so his daughters raced round and got him 140 in sponsorship and they presented him with his pink lady outfit at the last minute, pink socks and skirt and a pink hat."
The fancy dress prizes went to Chris Lawson who dressed as Henry Freeman, the town's renowned lifeboatman.
Amanda Whitwood won best dressed female as the Lady from Atlantis with a snake around her neck.
Children's prizewinners were Kayleigh Smythe who was Snow White and Emily Botham who was Little Red Riding Hood.
Team LP Dance Centre with their theme international rescue Thunderbirds won the group prize.
Three brothers from Sydney, Australia, Sam, Alex and Nick Todman, who were holidaying in England, joined in and made a donation on the day.
They had read about the event in the Whitby Gazette and people had also come from as far away as Derbyshire and Wales.
Around 700 was gathered in collecting tins on the day and organisers hope by the time they collect everything in, they will have made 4,000 to 5,000 in total.
Mr Harrison added: "It was a very icy morning and the pier was treacherous but we just covered it in sand and it did the job.
"On behalf of The Lions I would like to say a big thank you to the St John Ambulance, the diving club, coastguard and Whitby town mayor Terry Jennison who judged the fancy dress winners."
Twenty per cent of each dipper's sponsorship goes to Whitby Lions and the other 80% to the charity they have chosen.
* More pictures in Friday's Whitby Gazette.
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
