A woman from Felixstowe has raised over £2,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice after taking a freezing dip in fancy dress on Christmas Day.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ms Thorpe was inspired by her local choir, Pop Chorus, who had St Elizabeth Hospice as their chosen charity last year. Picture: SIMON THORPEMs Thorpe was inspired by her local choir, Pop Chorus, who had St Elizabeth Hospice as their chosen charity last year. Picture: SIMON THORPE (Image: Archant)

A woman from Felixstowe has raised over £2,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice after taking a freezing dip in fancy dress on Christmas Day.

Elaine Thorpe, 67, decided to brave a swim in the North Sea after becoming inspired by the work her local choir, Pop Chorus, had done for the Ipswich charity.

Having originally aimed to raise £1,000, Ms Thorpe more than doubled her target, collecting a total of £2,100 for the hospice.

She said: “I was so excited and exhilarated on the morning, I couldn’t wait to get into the freezing cold North Sea. I loved it so much, that I went back in for a second time, and actually ‘swam’ both times – I was really on a high by then!

“My original aim was to raise £1,000, so I contacted all my local friends, and very soon reached £1,200, so I then raised my goal to £1,500. I contacted more and more friends nationwide, and found their generosity completely overwhelming. When I reached £1,600, I thought ‘I’m going for gold now’ and increased my target to £2,000.

“I am now extremely pleased and very proud to announce the grand total I raised is £2100!

“A most worthy cause for a local charity gives such a sense of achievement, and greatly helps those in desperate need.”

To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice, and how to donate, go to www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk.