Strip and Dip, now in its 11th year, is on Saturday the 8th of June! Up to 1,000 women from all around Ireland are expected, to bare all and brave the cold Wicklow waters in aid of Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, Ireland’s Childrens’ Cancer Charity.
The Strip and Dip started eleven years ago after Deirdre Featherstone was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and had a brainwave after her mastectomy to do something fun – and raise money for childhood cancer!
The event itself has grown from 40 women in Year 1, to 2,500 women in Year 6 – a huge achievement.
A word from Dee Featherstone to set the scene for 2024… “The accumulated fundraising over the last 10 YEARS is now €1.17 million and counting! With these funds we have supported buying and renovating a house in Crumlin, Aoibheann’s Lighthouse, which is used for families who receive the devastating news that their child has cancer and need a place to stay while their child is undergoing treatment. This beautiful house is a respite for families travelling from outside Dublin and has an ‘Aoibheann’s Lighthouse’ sign outside to remind everyone what a beacon of light and hope Aoibheann Pink Tie is to families going through the worst times imaginable. Aoibheann’s Pink Tie is the national children’s cancer charity, and its main goal is to offer practical support to families going through childhood cancer. The team in Aoibheann’s Pink Tie are earth angels – just ask any of the many families who they have helped! I look forward to our 11th Dip being a huge success on Saturday 8th June, and raising even more funds.”
The event has appeared twice in the Guinness Book of World Records (2018 and 2021 for The Online Dip Challenge). As well as Strip & Dip, Dee Featherstone set up what started as “a bit of choral singing” and is now The Sea of Change Choir who appeared in the finals of Ireland’s Got Talent in 2019, at the EU Parliament in Brussels for World Cancer Day and received a standing ovation in the plenary room. They were also asked to represent Ireland as part of the WHO Worldwide Conference on Cervical Cancer the last 3 years.
Said founder and organiser, Dee Featherstone “There are a lot of women undertaking this who have been through cancer and of course lots of people who have been affected by it. With laughter, scars, dodgy boobs, or in a lot of cases only one or none, we would like to send a clear message that there is life after cancer and also raising awareness of how important it is for ladies to get checked. It’s a magical day for all involved and a closed format. Remember, only ladies allowed!”
Over 1,000 ladies are expected to do Strip and Dip this year now for the 11th time being organised via Deirdre’s blog www.kickingtheshiteoutofcancer.com and again this year she is raising much needed funds for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie – Ireland’s National Children’s Cancer Charity – with over €1,2000,000 expected to be raised for www.aoibheannspinktie.ie.
Donations would be greatly appreciated and can be made on www.idonate.ie/stripanddip
Registration
To register, visit stripanddip.ie. The cost to register is €27.95 and is non refundable (if you can not make the event the monies go to the charity, and if the event needs to be cancelled the fees will be held for next dip).
The registration fees cover the cost of running the event and this year includes the bus from Arklow Bay to the beach and back. Any fees leftover after the event go directly to the charity.
Location & Schedule
The event will begin at the Arklow Bay Hotel at 10am, which is included in the cost of registration. For a detailed schedule, including security measures, parking and rough timings, visit stripanddip.ie.
