North East Skinny Dip: Swimmers bare all braving North Sea for charity
The initiative has raised more than £100,000 for Mind, a mental health charity, since 2012.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hundreds of people have stripped naked and plunged into the cold waters of the North Sea to mark the autumn equinox to raise money for charity.
The North East Skinny Dip event saw throngs of naked participants frolic in the sea in Druridge Bay, Northumberland, on Sunday morning.
It was the 11th such annual mass skinny dip and the initiative has raised in excess of £100,000 for Mind, a mental health charity, since 2012.
An organiser said “there is no better way to celebrate the autumn equinox than stripping down to skin at sunrise and running wild and free into the North Sea with hundreds of other people”.
Describing the event on its JustGiving page, they continued: “It is a celebration of life! Of nature! And of our own, unique, physical bodies! It is about taking a risk and embracing a moment of pure joy and freedom!
“Perhaps most importantly, it is about coming together and supporting each other in this crazy thing called life!”