Why join us at one of our Nippy Dippers events? This is why!
- Written by Frances Heather
Why would someone in their seventy fourth year set off on a grey damp November day to drive over 100 miles to visit a quarry to swim? Why indeed? Why not stay at home wrapped up in the warm? It's because at the age of nearly seventy I discovered the delights of cold water, having been scared of water as a kid and suddenly it clicked, so by the age of eleven I had swum a mile.
Why go all that way to dip in a cold quarry? I even asked myself that as we were driving down the final road leading to the quarry. Within minutes I was reminded of the answer.
The crowd of mainly women, mostly women of a certain age and older, all donned in various designs of dry robes with bright bobble hats. Women who are all kinds of shapes and sizes, some obviously disabled and others who may be but it's not so obvious maybe. All these women, happily chatting and excited about taking part in the annual Artic Flappers Nippy Dippers event. Happy smiling ladies welcoming people at registration. Other lovely ladies manning unique sales stalls with beautiful swimmy merchandise. The second themselves, all different lengths and different levels of challenge. Everyone equally cheered on by the spectators, whether they were swimming 1100 meters or just 50. It didn't matter. It wasn't a race. It was about taking part and personal achievement.
Each person emerging from the water with glowing smiling faces, some festively decorated adorned with fancy hats. Each person, telling a unique story. Perhaps one of overcoming life challenges. Some who have battles with illness, disability, depression or relationship issues. Some just there to have fun with their friends. It didn't matter. All drawing together in a community of camaraderie.
Then there is the team. Many women giving their time voluntarily to support The Bluetits. Some who have faced their own personal life challenges and have fought battles themselves. As a woman of nearly seventy five years of age, with chronic lymphoedema and legs like tree trunks, it is truly a place where I felt really accepted. I couldn't swim fast because my legs weigh me down. I had to have help to get in and out of the water, which people were happy to give so cheerfully and welcoming. Having faced a lot of disability discrimination elsewhere, I appreciated this. Plenty of safety advice and support. Everyone felt safe. No one telling me what I could or couldn't do, or telling me I couldn't manage it, or it wasn't safe. No one trying to do for me what I could do myself. Just waiting for me to say when I needed help and for me to reach out. The cheers and praise as I finally finished last, was so appreciated. I felt that I was special and felt proud of not just myself but all the women meeting there and privileged to be part of the wonderful community called the Bluetits. I had a lovely sauna to warm up and won a swim journal!
Thank you everyone for a wonderful day. I am proud to say I am a regular supporter as this community is so vital to many.
