Keen swimmer takes a dip in Hartlepool as part of October swimming challenge to raise money for Surfers Against Sewage

Nikki McCann, 63, is taking part in a dip a day challenge throughout October to raise money for Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and on Saturday, October 19, took her 19th plunge at Seaton Carew, near to where her sister lives.

SAS is an environmental charity that campaigns to raise awareness about the condition of the UK’s rivers and seas.

According to SAS, there have been 584,001 discharges of raw sewage into UK waterways in the last year and 75% of UK rivers pose a serious risk to human health.

Nikki, who lives in Durham, said: "I knew about SAS and their work and wanted to be part of the ‘end sewage dumps’ solution and so I signed up for their annual Dip A Day October this year to help them raise awareness about the state of our rivers and seas and their work to campaign government.

"Last year, over 11,000 people took part in it raising over £200,000, and this year looks set to be even better.”

On retiring from her job at Gateshead Carers, Nikki found her love of swimming and also became aware of the problems facing the world’s seas.

She said: “There have been some weeks when we just couldn’t swim as the water was so dirty and sometimes, we were hit by bits of floating plastic from broken buckets and other debris.”

Nikki, whose sister, Michele Keeler, is from Hartlepool, continued: “SAS produces an interactive water quality map and a Safer Seas & Rivers App which as a swimmer I always check before setting off for a swim.

"So far this month, I have swam in various parts of the North Sea, had 10 minute cold showers and even swam at London Royal Docks.”

Speaking about the dip, Nikki said: “It was lovely but cold.

"The water looked clean and it is such a great stretch of beach to swim at.

"I only saw a couple of other dippers in the far distance so I pretty much had the water to myself.”

Nikki was joined by Michele who gave her a promised “hot cuppa” at the end of her dip.

To donate to Nikki’s cause, see https://socialsync.app/fundraiser/cr-w9vwq4ypy98z3?currentTab=fundraising.