Over 2,000 women took to a secret beach on Saturday to shed both clothes and inhibitions. The new record for the largest collective skinny dip in the world has been broken this weekend, in County Wicklow. The previous record of 786 people was absolutely smashed by a group of 2,505 women who ran into the sea on a secret beach in The Garden County on Saturday morning.
Aoife Marie O'Regan@aoifemarieor
Surreal experience skinny dipping on a secluded beach in Wicklow with 3000 ladies this morning! Please #donate if you can via my mate’s @iDonate_ie page. All proceeds to the incredible @AoibheannPinkT #fightlikeachild #StripandDip https://www.idonate.ie/DeirbhleDip
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The group's aim was to raise money for children's cancer charity Aoibhean's Pink Tie. A number of the women involved set up donation pages in order to fundraise for the charity which assists the families of children suffering from childhood cancer and who are attending St Johns Oncology Ward in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. This is the fifth time the event has gone ahead, fronted by cancer-survivor Dee Featherstone.JOE spoke to Aoife Marie O'Regan, one of the many who took part in this morning's excursion, who informed us that it was so much more than just shedding clothes."I actually heard about it ages back but signed up last minute with a friend," she began."I think everyone knows someone affected by cancer. Personally, it’s an issue very close to my heart."It felt great to shed all our inhibitions for the day. There were all ages and sizes there. You get talking to strangers and after a while, you totally forget you’re all naked. It’s a very surreal and empowering experience."Aoibheanns Pink Tie was set up in 2010 after by the club's new chairperson, Jimmy Norman when his daughter, Aoibheann, passed away. During their long battle with cancer, Jimmy and his wife Annmarie met with a lot of parents going through the trauma of having a child with cancer, and more specifically identified with the financial burden that inevitably follows diagnosis. The group raises funds through various events and fundraisers that people organise and then use this to support families in St. Johns Ward, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. It is run by a team of 14 volunteers. As a volunteer-run charity, 96% of the money raised goes towards supporting and providing practical help to the families of children fighting cancer in Ireland.