HospiceCare North Northumberland is delighted to announce that Rothbury WI has adopted us as their charity of the year for 2023. As part of their commitment to support the Hospice, the WI agreed to do a secret skinny dip to raise funds – which they hoped to raise at least £1,000.

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The dip was completed at Sugar Sands Beach on 5th September and has raised currently raised £4,440! Smashing the original target out of the park.  

 

Julie Frost, HospiceCare’s Marketing & Communications Officer, said “We are delighted to have been chosen as Rothbury WI’s Charity of the Year 2023 because not only will it help generate vital funds, it will also help raise the profile of our Hospice at Home, Bereavement & Dementia Support Services to a much wider audience. Meeting Katy for the first time to discuss their latest fundraiser, I suggested they were all super-brave for signing up to complete a skinny dip. I asked if it had been a difficult task getting members to agree to take part?”

 

Katy Nickolls, Rothbury WI Secretary, added “I originally mentioned the idea of a skinny dip as a joke to members of the WI as our next  fundraiser.  To my surprise, several members said they thought it was a great idea and that they would do it – so the’ Secret Skinny Dip’ event was born. We are planning it very carefully with Health & Safety being a top priority but are keeping the exact date and beach location top secret, as we are a demure group of ladies after all! We will just promise to complete the challenge by the end of September this year and to post photographs as evidence (rear view only) on our website.”

 

Julie continues: “it doesn’t matter what size the donation, large of small, EVERY penny counts. This year HospiceCare’s running costs are expected to be around £1m. We will receive a 5% contribution from the NHS, the rest we have to find from fundraising events, donations, trusts and organisations, legacies and our charity shops. It would mean the world to us and the families we support, to help Rothbury WI achieve, or even exceed, their target of £1,000.”

 

 Tully's and The Narrow Nick on Rothbury High Street have both agreed to take a collection tin so people who want to pay cash can drop money in there. Or you can contact the Rothbury WI directly via rothburywi@gmail.com.

 

The members of the Rothbury WI are no strangers to fundraising for local causes. Over the last six years, they have raised over £8,000 for a variety of charities that provide services that are active in their local community. This has included Carers Northumberland, Thropton Warm Hub Lunch Club, The Coquetdale Bereavement Support Group, St Oswald’s Hospice, Northumberland Park Mountain Rescue, and the Women’s Refuge. However, the jewel in their fundraising crown has been the circa £10,000 raised for The Stephen Carey Foundation in 2014 from a ‘Vintage Rothbury’ event.