12 Dips in December
Complete 12 Dips in December and raise vital funds to help save lives from heart disease, stroke and thrombosis.
You can choose to -
Dip in the sea, in an ice-bath in your back garden, or use a garden hose or cold shower for a chilly challenge!
Register now for your challenge Beanie Hat!
Countdown until Challenge!
How the Challenge Works
Register
Register now for your challenge Beanie Hat and set up your fundraising page
Log
Log your Dips on your fundraising page after every dip.
You can take a picture and add your Dips to your Updates!
Share
Share your fundraising page after every Dip – your friends and family will follow your journey and support you to protect hearts in Ireland.
You Choose How To Dip!
The 12 Dips in December sees hundreds of people all over Ireland dipping to protect hearts.
You choose how you want to Dip.
You can dip in open water, in a pool or ice bath all to raise funds in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation.
Register now to receive your FREE Irish Heart Foundation beanie hat and when you complete 12 Dips and fundraise you will earn your challenge medal.
Pauline's story ❤️
Pauline was devastated when at just 38 she was told she had the heart of a 70-year-old.
A mother of three young children, was diagnosed with heart failure.
She suffered three heart attacks, was resuscitated after a cardiac arrest and had open-heart surgery.
“Being told ‘some of your heart is dead’ was, without doubt, the most devastating sentence I had ever heard in my life. The fact that I had a two-week-old baby girl and two little boys at home that needed that same heart to keep beating to have their mother in their lives, made the impact of those words all the worse. How could I be a mother with a partially dead heart? Or more terrifyingly, how long would I get to be their mother when the vital organ responsible for my life was partially dead?"
For me, the psychological impact of my heart failure diagnosis was undoubtedly harder than all the physical symptoms that came with it. I could treat physical issues with physical remedies… tiredness meant the need to rest, breathlessness meant the need to slow down, a dry windpipe meant the need to go quiet. But the psychological fallout, the anxiety, shock, grief, fear, depression and pessimism for my future, that all came with this diagnosis, were things that I did not know how to cope with."
"The Irish Heart Foundation improved the quality of my life in so many ways.
I went from feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and fear as a lone heart failure patient in the community, to a place of support, connection, opportunities and empowerment.”
Your fundraising will help us to continue to support people like Pauline and families all over Ireland.
Thank you!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is registration free?
What is in the registration package?
The registration package has your 12 Dips in December Beanie hat for you to wear during the challenge.
When you complete the challenge, we will send you a second pack with your medal.
To complete 12 Dips in December you need to log your Dips on your fundraising page throughout the month.
How much do I have to raise?
Your fundraising page is automatically set-up with a target amount of €150, but you can customize your fundraiser to any amount.
What counts as a Dip?
The choice is yours.
We know it’s not always easy to make it to open water so you can mix in cold showers, ice baths, and ice buckets.
You don't have to stick to one type of Dip.
You decide when you want to Dip as well, you can do the 1st of December to the 12th or a throughout the whole month.
The main thing is that you Dip 12 times in December and track it on your fundraiser.
Can I do more than 12 Dips?
Of course! If you want to set your own swimming goals – Go for it!
How do I track my Dips?
You need to log your Dips on your fundraising page.
This is how we will be tracking people’s progress. For all your swims to count, you need to post them to your fundraising page.
When will I receive my Beanie Hat?
We ask you to allow up to 14 days from when you register. If you have registered over 14 days ago and you have not received your Beanie hat, please email us hello@irishheart.ie
This is a large fundraising event, so we thank you for your patience.
Tips for Cold Water Dips
Keep as warm as you can before getting in
Stay hydrated
Even in cold water, your body can become dehydrated. Drink water before and after your swim to stay properly hydrated.
Get in slowly to avoid cold water shock
By getting into the water slowly, and splashing your torso and face before you immerse, you can control your breathing and help prevent more serious reactions.
Bring extra layers for after and a hot drink, or soup
To help restore your warmth, bring extra, loose, warm layer(s) for your top half, your red Irish Heart Foundation hat, socks and gloves, and a hot drink.
Pro tip: Hot water bottles are the height of winter dipping luxury!
Plan to get dressed quickly
As soon as you get out of the water, focus on getting dressed above anything else.
Lots and lots of small, loose layers without fiddly zips and hooks are recommended. Jeans, tight leggings, and materials like lycra are not your friends after winter dips.
Exercise warms you up fastest
The fastest way to properly warm up after you swim is exercise. A brisk walk after you have fully dressed and recovered, or running on the spot, or jumping jacks will stop the shivering in no time.
Plan ahead and know your exits
Familiarise yourself with the location of nearby lifeguard stations or emergency services. Having a buddy system is also advisable to assist if need and will double the fun.
In cold water, stay relatively close to the shore so you can return to the shore quickly when you are ready to leave.
Always respect the Open Water
Know your own limits and listen to advice from officials regarding weather and water conditions.
Is cold water swimming good for you?
With repeated exposure to cold, the body adapts and regular swimming can improve fitness and blood pressure in healthy individuals.
Swimming helps keep your joints supple and muscles strong and can help you to lose weight.
However for people with pre-existing heart conditions sudden increases in blood pressure and heart rate can be a problem so individuals with cardiac conditions should always consult their doctor before starting swimming.
Can I take part if I have a heart condition?
Cold water swimming can increase the heart rate and blood pressure and these effects increase the work load on the heart.
For people with pre-existing heart conditions sudden increases in blood pressure and heart rate can be a problem so individuals with cardiac conditions should always consult their doctor before starting swimming.
If you have a pre-existing heart condition its often advised to only swim in water of between 26-28C as this has the least effect on the heart.
Water that is too cold increases the risk of arrhythmias, or if it’s too hot it can decrease the blood pressure making you feel light headed or faint.
Always stop swimming if you feel unwell, have chest pain or palpitations and if symptoms continue seek medical advice.
Additional resources for Open Water Swimming
This is a helpful guide for water safety in open water swimming if you choose to do your 12 Dips in open water - https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/open-water-swimming
12 Dips in December! ❄️ You got this!
To earn your medal you need to do these 3 steps after all 12 Dips.
- Log your Dips on your fundraising page
- Share your fundraising page
- Tag the Irish Heart Foundation on social media
To set up your fundraising page, register now!
