Sunderland's Boxing Day Dip cancelled amid coronavirus fears - but organisers vow to be back next year

Sunderland’s legendary Boxing Day Dip has been beaten by the coronavirus – but organisers have vowed to be back next year.
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With no way to enforce social distancing, Sunderland Lions Club has been forced to pull the plug on this year’s event.

The Seaburn promenade is always thronged with spectators, while dippers pack into the changing room at the Grand Hotel before and after taking the plunge.

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The Lions announced the cancellation of this year’s event on Facebook. Spokeswoman Anne Fielding said: “Needless to say there was great disappointment but everyone did understand.

Organisers have been forced to cancel this year's Boxing Day DipOrganisers have been forced to cancel this year's Boxing Day Dip
Organisers have been forced to cancel this year's Boxing Day Dip

"Having organised the dip for 45 years it is such a shame and as a club we are devastated not to bring this event to the people of Sunderland and elsewhere.

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The Lions charge a set fee to fund the cost of organising the event and their own charitable work in the city, with dippers free to keep any excess raised for their own good causes.

"It will mean a big drop in our fund-raising activities, however, we do hope to arrange some kind of on-line giving plan for past dippers to subscribe to if they wish,” said Anne.

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"We have continued to give our support to various causes including the Lebanese Disaster appeal and locally to food banks and soup kitchens. We have just donated £200 to Sunderland Minster in memory of one of our members who sadly died.“The virus also means we will be unable to bring our Santa sleigh to the streets of Sunderland. It is also partly due to the fact that Lion John, who died, used to house the sleigh in his garage over Christmas and we obviously can no longer do this.“However, as a club we are still in existence and hold meetings on Zoom and we look forward to Christmas 2021 when we hope to arrange the Boxing Day Dip again and also bring Santa out to visit everyone.”More than 200 hardy souls braced the freezing waters off Seaburn for last year’s Dip.

And hundreds more lined the promenade to show their support for an event that raised more than £30,000 for a range of good causes.

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