Southampton Blood Donor Centre are set to take a cold water dip to raise money for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
Cold Water Challenge in Support of Ian
Twenty people, including 13 cold water dippers, will meet at Lee-on-Solent on 23 April. They will brave the elements to support their colleague Ian, 63, who recovered from lung cancer treatment last year.
The team has set itself a tough target. They plan to stay in the sea for “one minute per degree”. The average sea temperature in April is 9.2°C. That means they must remain in the water for just over nine minutes.
Ian Will Cheer from the Shore
Ian cannot take part in the challenge, but he will attend to support his friends.
“You can guarantee I will be in bits on the day,” he said. “I will be bawling my eyeballs out, that is for sure.
“The team are doing this to support me because of the work I have done for the Roy Castle Foundation in publicising your charity. In that support, they’re helping you with donations.”
Ian’s Diagnosis and Recovery
Doctors diagnosed Ian with lung cancer on 14 July 2022 after he reported a persistent cough. He completed treatment and received the all clear following his latest scan in January 2023.
Since then, he has shared his story to empower others living with lung cancer. He continues to highlight the importance of early diagnosis.
“Becoming a Roy Castle Lung Patient Advocate has given me the opportunity to share my experiences and help someone going through a cancer diagnosis,” he said. “I try to turn a negative into a positive.”
He also urges others to act quickly if they notice symptoms.
“For anyone that has a cough for over a three-week period, please get it checked out,” he said. “In hindsight, I wish I had done it earlier, but I was stubborn – that’s me all over. The earlier it’s caught, the easier it can be treated.”
Fundraising Goal
The team hopes to match or beat the £3,000 they raised when they took part in a dip for Cancer Research 12 months ago.
“With that money, I would be happy if it went into more research or supported someone who has just started their journey,” Ian said. “To be honest, it’s for Roy Castle to use at their discretion. I know it will be used wisely and sensibly.”
You can read more of Ian’s story here
You can still sponsor TEAM NHSBT’s cold water dip using their JustGivingPage.