A GROUP of Scottish wild swimmers decided to take to the sea for a sunrise coffee morning to raise money for cancer.
The group of Edinburgh sea dippers took to the water at Portobello beach at sunrise and enjoyed some coffee and cakes while getting their daily cold water therapy.
The swimmers hope others will join them by taking part in Macmillan cancer charity’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 24.
Swimmer Lynsey Taylor Pittman said: “I lost both my mum and dad to cancer so I know how important supporting those going through something similar is. It was incredibly hard losing my mum when I was only 23 and my dad just at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
“Being in lockdown meant I couldn’t see anyone and that was really difficult. I was still allowed my daily exercise so that’s when I took to the sea.
“The benefits both on my physical and mental health are huge for me. Getting into the cold water shocks your system and then it begins releasing all the happy hormones. When you come out you get this euphoria and just like exercise it gets addictive. The connection with nature and friends is exactly what we all need right now. So, get your coffee and cake and give it a go!”
Macmillan relies almost entirely on donations from the public to fund its services, and since the pandemic hit, has seen its fundraising income drop. The charity is hoping that after 18-months of cancelled fundraising events, people across Scotland will sign up for the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 24.
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