It’s become something of a tradition and now – after being forced to cancel the event last year – it’s back with a vengeance.

Organisers of the White Christmas Dip are urging people to register for the Christmas Day event.

They’re hoping to raise £50,000 for Macmillan Caring Locally.

The funds will go towards ‘Brick by Brick’, Macmillan Caring Locally’s capital appeal to build a new hospice to replace the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch.

The Macmillan Unit is seeing three times as many referrals as ten years ago.

But the current building is not big enough and cannot be economically adapted.

To date, the White Christmas Dip has raised more than £265,000 for Macmillan Caring Locally.

The origins of the present day event began in 2008.

John White, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was visiting family and they all decided to join the Spartans in their annual Christmas morning swim.

John, along with his son also named John White, and nephews Tommy Baker, Harry Baker, Berni Mendieta and Joe Hardwick found some old outfits and decided to take part wearing fancy dress.

They arrived at Boscombe Pier ready to charge into the sea only to find there was nobody around.

After waiting for 30 minutes, the family took to the cold waters joined by Andy Corbett who was cycling along the promenade, for their very own Christmas Day swim.

After the success of the first Christmas Dip, Tommy decided, with his family, that taking to the sea was a fitting way to see the whole family on Christmas Day as well as the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air on a day that was usually spent indoors.

In 2009, they again took to the sea on Christmas morning with more of their family and friends but saw an opportunity to raise money for charity too.

And so the White Christmas Dip – and what was to become the UK’s biggest charity dip – was born.

In 2012, more than 120 bathers took to the water, swelling to in excess of 350 a year later with the ‘dippers’ braving a hailstorm and joining the fun.

Watched by 3,000 spectators, the event raised £25,000 for Macmillan Caring Locally.

2014 saw a big increase in the number of dippers starting their Christmas Day by charging into the sea in fancy dress.

Over 600 people ran into the water at Boscombe Pier and the promenade filled with 6,000 spectators.

The White Christmas Dip in 2017. Picture: Scott Lovegrove.

Fast forward to 2019 and the Dip broke the 1,000 milestone – and by some way – with over 1,200 dippers taking part and raising £50,000.

Last year, the 13^th year, the difficult decision was made to cancel the tradition.

However, this Christmas Day it’s back.

Organisers invite you to take the bull by the horns (fancy dress idea!), get your friends and families signed up and really push the fundraising.

• To register, please go to whitechristmasdip.co.uk