# Cold water challenge proves popular for multiple charities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/07/23/cold-water-challenge-proves-popular-multiple-charities/
- Published: 2014-07-23T10:53:23+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

As most of Britain is basking in the glorious sunshine and heat, a new social media
craze is sweeping the nation to help cool us down… the cold water challenge! This
trend, often videoed, is of people drenching themselves or others in icy cold water
or jumping into the sea, all in aid to raise money for charity.

Through tagging each other on Facebook, it has now become the new fun and creative
fundraising event.

In New Zealand cancer charities have received almost $400,000 in donations through
cold water challenges, and in the US participants usually pay $10 towards their 
chosen charity but if they forfeit their challenge they have to donate $100.

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In the UK, it has recently been adopted by a [close network of deaf people](http://limpingchicken.com/2014/07/11/the-facebook-craze-for-deaf-people-emptying-a-er-bucket-of-water-over-their-own-heads-shows-our-communitys-love-of-silly-fun/)
who have raised money for a number of charities including [WaterAid](http://www.wateraid.org/uk/news/news/cold-water-tipping-craze-raises-money-for-wateraid ).
SignSong performer Jayne Fletcher, from Wolverhampton, took the refreshing challenge:

 

 

She said:

> “I had seen the Water Challenge all over Facebook and a few fans of mine had nominated
> me, so I did it to support the deaf community and to help WaterAid. It was fun
> and so refreshing!”

 

[⌊Marcus Missen and Hannah Wilkinson of WaterAid take the cold water drench⌉⌊Marcus
Missen and Hannah Wilkinson of WaterAid take the cold water drench⌉[

Marcus Missen and Hannah Wilkinson of WaterAid take the cold water drench

As a way of saying thank you to all who have taken part, two WaterAid members of
staff have joined in. Communications and Fundraising  Director, Marcus Missen and
Media Officer Hannah Wilkinson volunteered to get soaked on the banks of the Thames:

 

 

[The Masons of Scotland](http://www.randolph776.org.uk/index.php/cwc) have also 
[taken part in the challenge](http://www.pgle.org/component/hdflvplayer/394) and
have raised over £2,500 for nearly 35 charities.

 

_Main image: [cold water drench](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-161601731/stock-photo-young-adult-that-got-completely-drenched-with-green-background.html)
by Benoit Daoust on Shutterstock.com_

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