Fundraisers can now apply to take part in the annual Christmas Day seaside dip in Felixstowe – which has a Disney’s Frozen theme this year.

Ipswich Star: Felixstowe Christmas Day Dip. Left to right: Josh Archer and Victoria Charles-Sakar.Felixstowe Christmas Day Dip. Left to right: Josh Archer and Victoria Charles-Sakar.

Around 400 fundraisers every year start their seasonal celebrations at the beach opposite Mannings Amusements in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.

Catherine Sheppard, events and challenges fundraiser at the Ipswich hospice, said: “The Christmas Day Dip is in its 12th year and it’s still such a popular event. It’s a tradition now for families and friends to come down to the beach on Christmas morning and join together to take a dip or watch from the pier as their loved ones run into the cold sea.

“There’s always such a great atmosphere at the event, not only with the hundreds of people taking part, but with the thousands who turn out to watch. A lot of people do it in memory of their loved ones who were cared for by the hospice, and all the sponsorship money raised from the event goes towards improving life for local people living with a progressive illness.”

This year participants are being encouraged to emulate the launch’s Frozen theme by dressing up as characters from the movie.

Mrs Sheppard added: “We get a lot of people dressing up to take part. We see all sorts, from people dressed as turkeys and Christmas trees, to others in their penguin onesies or even a mankini!

“This year we were joined by Olaf and Elsa to launch the event – and we attracted quite a bit of attention as Olaf lay on the sand, draped in tinsel. We expect to see quite a few Frozen characters on Christmas morning ready to run into the sea.”

Anyone from aged 13 and over can take part for just £5, or £10 with a t-shirt.

To register, visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/events – or sign up on the day at 8.30am It costs £5.

St Elizabeth Hospice provides vital care and support to more than 2,000 patients and their families every year.

It costs millions of pounds a year to run the hospice and they rely on fundraising events, donations and the income generated from its shops to meet the majority of these costs.