REGISTER
Brave the cold between 1-31 December.
It's free to register and if you kickstart your fundraising with a donation of £5 or more you will receive a santa hat.
MAKE A SPLASH
How and where you take on your cold water challenge is up to you. You may choose to take ice baths daily, visit your local lido or enjoy a chilly dip in the sea.
However you choose to take part, be sure to stay safe and follow our safety guidelines.
RAISE VITAL FUNDS
There is no fundraising minimum for this challenge but this is a charity event and we encourage our Santas to raise as much as they can in support of veterans' mental health. Nominate a friend to take part, share your fundraising page and spread the word!
make a splash your way
Visit your local lido, take ice baths daily, enjoy a chilly dip in the sea or have cold showers for the month! However you choose to take part, by braving the cold your support will make a life changing difference to the veterans we support.
Taking part in the Santa Splash is also a great way to give your mental health a boost as cold water swimming has been proven to lower the levels of stress. With no fitness level required, this is an event for everyone.
All virtual participants are responsible for their own health and safety. Please make sure you watch our safety guideline videos, read the FAQs and follow our and stay safe when completing your Santa Splash.
Join our Santa Splash Facebook Group
Take a snap
We encourage everyone taking part to document their achievement and nominate a friend to join in!
Take a photo or video after completing your cold water challenge and #SantaSplash @CombatStress to raise awareness and help smash the stigma of mental health.
"I've braved the cold for Combat Stress. Now it's your turn..."
Santa hat
It's free to register for the virtual Santa Splash and all participants who kickstart their fundraising with a donation of £5 or more will receive a Santa hat on registration.
Health benefits of cold water
By taking part in our Santa Splash, you will not only be helping to support veteran's mental health but you may also find the Santa Splash has a positive impact on your own physical and mental health.
Cold water swimming has been shown to have a number of health benefits. See below for some of the health benefits of cold water swimming:
- It boosts your immune system
- It gives you a natural high
- It improves your circulation
- It increases your libido
- It burns calories
- It reduces stress
- It is a great way of socialising and making new friends
- It is great for peri-menopausal / menopausal women for all the above and more
The latest research shows most of the benefits of cold water will be felt in the first 2 minutes and beyond 10 minutes of immersion there are minimal additional benefits. So, when it comes to cold water swimming, longer does not equal better.
Stay safe and listen to your body!
Fundraising rewards
Our work would not be possible without the support of our amazing fundraisers. We feel you should be rewarded for your efforts, so why not try to collect our Santa Splash rewards along the way.
Raise £100: To receive your Combat Stress neck buff
Raise £375: To receive your Combat Stress travel mug
Raise £500: To receive your Combat Stress bobble hat
Connect with our Santa Splash community
#SantaSplash
@combatstress
When you sign up, you can join our Facebook group and share top tips with others taking part. Sharing your Santa Splash photos or videos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is a great way to let everyone know you’re taking part in Santa Splash so they can support you and we can thank you.
Be a part of our community and use the hashtag #SantaSplash @combatstress to help raise awareness.
Got a question?
Have a look through our FAQ’s below and if you can’t find the answer you are looking for, email challenges@combatstress.org.uk or call 01372 587 140. We are here to help!
FAQS
Is there an age limit?
We welcome participants aged 16 years and over. However, anyone aged under 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult when completing their Santa Splash.
Can I take part with family and friends?
Absolutely!
We advised participants taking on a virtual Santa Splash to have someone else with them.
This will not only make it funner but will also make your Santa Splash safer.
Can I take part if I have a health condition?
A cold water challenge isn't for everyone and your safety is our main priority.
If you are pregnant, suffer from heart disease or lung conditions, have asthma, or any other medical conditions that might be affected by exposure to cold water we advise you consult with your Doctor before registering for this event.
Can I take part if I am not a confident swimmer?
If you are not a confident swimmer, we advise you take part in the Virtual Santa Splash by either taking ice baths or cold showers for the month!
Do not take part in open water and if you visit a lido, be sure to stay within the shallow end and let the lifeguard know.
You are responsible for your own safety when taking on our Virtual Santa Splash, so please be sensible and think carefully as to whether this event is right for you.
How long should I stay in the water?
The latest research shows most of the benefits of cold water will be felt in the first 2 minutes and beyond 10 minutes of immersion there are minimal additional benefits. So, we do not advise staying in any longer than 10 minutes maximum.
When it comes to cold water swimming, longer does not equal better. Please listen to your body and remember your health and safety is the priority.
What kit should I bring?
We advise all participants to bring a dry robe and towel, swimmers, a swim cap, warm hat, gloves and socks, warm layers to put on afterwards, crocs or slip on shoes.
Can I take part in fancy dress?
The event is called the Santa Splash and we encourage Santa hats to be worn.
We do not encourage participants to wear any fancy dress in the water which may affect their ability to swim. So, strip off and leave those Santa suits on land!
When will the fundraising rewards be sent?
We will send out rewards at the start of each week starting from 27 November 2023.
Is there a fundraising target?
The Santa Splash is a charity event raising funds for veteran's mental health.
We encourage all fundraisers to do the best they can and aim to raise £150.
How do I set up a fundraising page?
When you register for Santa Splash, you will be automatically directed to setting up an online fundraising page.
Share your fundraising link with your friends and family and see how many fundraising rewards you can collect along the way!
How do I pay in offline donations?
If you have any offline donations, there are a number of ways you can pay your money in.
Put the money into your bank account and then add this onto your fundraising page.
Send a cheque made payable to “Combat Stress” to Race to Remember, Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX. Please don’t send cash through the post.
To pay by phone please contact us on 01372 587 140 or email challenges@combatstress.org.uk or you can make a bank transfer straight into the Combat Stress account. Our account details are:
Account number: 00100013
Sort code: 60-00-01
Reference: Your name/SS
We’re here to support you every step of the way!
Our friendly challenge events team are on hand to provide you with all the support you need for your Santa Splash. Please read the health and saftey guidelines and our FAQ's and then drop us a line if you have any further questions.
Contact us below or call 01372 587 140, we’d love to hear from you!
