The third ‘Dip in the Nip’ will take place on a beach in the northwest of Ireland on Saturday June 25. This innovative fundraiser was the brainchild of Sligo woman Máire Garvey, who came up with the idea of a small sponsored all-female skinny dip in 2009 in order to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society.
This simple idea soon developed into something much more substantial, becoming a far larger event, and generating significant media interest. Spearheaded by a lively and entertaining interview with the late Gerry Ryan on his show, Máire credits Gerry with generating such interest about the event that 180 women from all over Ireland took part in its first year, raising €56,000 between them.
Last year, due to the huge interest from the male population, the Dip was opened to men as well, and 30 of them dared to bare all for the Irish Cancer Society, though at a respectable distance from the women. Máire is hopeful that even more men will participate this year.
This year sees the addition of a Great Big Dipper Party on Saturday night, as well as the usual breakfast on the beach after the Dip. Stores in Sligo will be offering discounts to Dippers all weekend, and the hotels and guesthouses are also offering special deals.
Given the fun element introduced in previous Dips by women, wearing pink wigs, feather boas and even pink rubber gloves there will be a prize on the day for the best Pink and the best Blue (so the men don’t feel left out ). There will also be a range of exciting raffle prizes for participants who get their sponsorship in by the deadline. In addition, this year, exclusively designed tee-shirts are being awarded to the 20 men and women who raise the most sponsorship, with a special prize going to the person who raises the most sponsorship overall. Proceeds from this year’s Dip in the Nip will be allocated to three separate Cancer beneficiaries – including the acquisition of a ‘scalp cooler’ for the Haemotology and Oncology Department in Sligo General Hospital.
The Dip in the Nip is also supporting the Drogheda Cancer Research and Education Trust in providing a genomic test which determines if a patient is better suited to anti-hormonal therapy than chemotherapy and which predicts the patient’s likely benefit from chemotherapy as well as their likelihood of breast cancer recurrence. Approximately 200 people a year could benefit from this therapy.
Finally, the Dip in the Nip is proud to be supporting the Irish Cancer Society again, whose mission it is to play a vital role in achieving world-class cancer services in Ireland, ensuring that fewer people get cancer and those who do are provided with treatment to ensure their survival.
Registration details and sponsorship forms are available from 086 173 3019 or www.dipinthenip.eu
