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Towards the end of this month, an enthusiastic bunch of locals will dress up in colourful, but usually not very warm, costumes and plunge into the cold waters of Arkles Bay – all in the name of fun.
The Arkles Bay Winter Splash is also a fundraiser – Harbour Hospice has been the beneficiary since the start, with more than $10,000 raised to date.
Organiser Greg Holland wanted to create a fun event that offered a challenge, while raising money for a good cause. The community embraced it – there were around 70 participants last year.
Along the way, the event has also turned Greg into a year-round swimmer.
“I ended up in the cardiac ward with a suspected heart issue that turned out to be stress-related,” he says. “Regular dips in the ocean have really helped improve that.”
In particular, he finds it fantastic for mental health.
“I’m a busy person running a business and with a family, so it is time out, and a great way to appreciate the place where we live,” he says. “It’s thought that the cold-water triggers dopamine, so that’s the feel-good side-effect.”
He says there’s no doubt the Arkles Bay Winter Splash must have been in his mind when he began his year-round swimming.
“Getting in is tough, but I know how good it feels afterwards and the more I do it the more I want to do it,” he says. “Maybe some of the winter splashers will go onto become year-round swimmers like me.”
Greg says it was great to see so many young people, including a number from Whangaparāoa College, take part last year and he would love to see more give it a try.
The Arkles Bay Winter Splash takes place on Sunday, July 28, 10am-11am.
Fundraising is mainly via Givealittle, https://bit.ly/3XDLpi5
