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Category: Freezbrury

Irish Independent – March 2024

A trio of Wicklow friends whose families have been affected by cancer recently completed the extreme ‘Freezbrury’ challenge, taking an increasingly longer dip in the sea every day in February to raise almost €6,000 for Arklow Cancer Support.
Fuelled by their love for sea swimming, life-long pals Conor Byrne and Conor Dunne from Arklow and Thomas Hogan from Conary set out to test their physical and mental endurance by getting into the sea at The Cove in Arklow over the 29 days of February, adding a minute to their dip with each day that passed.

In total, the lads spent 435 minutes, or over seven hours, in the sea throughout the challenge.

Braving sea temperatures as low as seven degrees, the three friends followed the rules of the challenge to the letter, submerging themselves to their upper chests for the duration, and their heads fully at least once.

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Kilkennylive – February 2024

This is the sixth year of Freezbrury in Kilkenny and it is growing each year as Claire Hynes explains.

“Freezbrury which is in its seventh year involves dipping in cold water whether it be river, sea or ice tub for every day in February but the date decides how long we spend in the water. So it’s one minute on February 1 and 29 minutes on February 29, thanks to this being a Leap Year.

“Alongside the daily dips we are also organising a monster raffle which is being supported by many local businesses so we can really push to raise as much funds as possible for Amber Women’s Refuge,” she said.

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Irish Independent – February 2024

It’s 6.50am on a cold, dark Thursday as a crowd of swimmers swap their woolly hats and coats for swimming togs at the Forty Foot in Dublin.
Many of them are there to support Robert Young (24) as he jumps into the sea for his latest dip as part of a “Freezbrury” challenge to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.

Participants in the annual challenge, dreamed up by Galway adventurer Damian Brown, go for a swim in the sea, a lake or a river every day in February, adding one minute each day. On day one, they submerge themselves for one minute, the next day it is two, and so on.

On Thursday, Robert spent 22 minutes in the water after leaping off the rocks. He was joined by 15 of his friends, many of whom also work at accounting firm EY.

Some jumped in and stayed the course, while others lowered themselves gingerly into the sea and managed to remain there for just a few minutes.

Robert, who grew up in south Dublin, is a regular sea swimmer, but he would not normally go for a daily dip in the winter.

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Bray People – March 2020

A group from Bray participated in ‘Freezebury’ for Pieta House last month, spending an extra minute in the sea on each day of the month. The initiative was the brainchild of former rugby player Damien Browne, as a way of getting people out of their comfort zones for the month of February.

Damien paid a visit to the group on Bray seafront last Thursday, the 27th day of their challenge.

Participants all over the country committed to getting into an open water source ever day, with some opting for the more extreme version of adding a minute each day. They did one minute on February 1, two minutes on February 2, and so on, until they reached day 29 and 29 minutes last Saturday.

According to participant Paul Neiland, a small Bray group completed the challenge last year. ‘With it being partnered with Pieta House from the start this year it really has grown legs,’ he said, adding that people could also choose to do it for other causes such as Crumlin Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Society.

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The Nationalist – March 2021

PLUMMETING temperatures and icy waters proved no match for a hardy bunch of Carlow lads who bravely took on the bracing ‘Freezbrury Challenge’!Every day for the entire month of February, the group of seven twentysomethings fearlessly took the plunge into the river, staying in one minute on the first day of the month, then adding an extra minute every day to finish the month on Sunday with a truly Baltic 28 minutes in the water.

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Limerick Live – February 2021

EVERYBODY is looking forward to February being over but especially two chilled-out Limerick lads.

Mike Ryan, from Castletroy, and Jack Henchy, Ballyneety, are taking part in Freezbrury. The challenge was created by former professional rugby player turned adventurer, Damien Browne.

Mike explains that from February 1 to February 28 they have to get into the sea every day, adding a minute each day. Therefore, day one equals one minute, day two is two minutes, all the way to day 28, which will be a whopping 28 minutes.

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I LOVE LIMERICK – FEBRUARY 17TH, 2021

The Freezbrury Fundraiser Challenge for Milford Hospice funds has been taken on by Limerick students Mike Ryan, from Castletroy and Jack Henchy, Ballyneety.

Former professional rugby player turned adventurer Damien Browne created the original idea for the Freezbrury fundraiser. The concept consists of the participants enduring discomfort for the benefit of a more significant cause, such as fundraising for a charity or organisation that badly needs financial support.

For the month of February, Mike and Jack must plunge into the icy sea every day, each day adding a minute extra to the duration spent enduring the cold currents. The rules for the Freezbrury Challenge consist of not wearing hats, gloves, boots, trainers etc. The aim is to be submerged in the water as far as the upper chest for the entire duration, and then one must immerse their head underwater fully at least once every time.

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DUBLINLIVE – FEB 15TH, 2021

Three Dublin lads who have decided to swim to raise money for mental health charities had a bit of trouble going for their daily dip with weather warnings in place over the weekend.

Dave Murray, Paul Henry and Ian Smith are participating in Freezbrury, a challenge where they go for a swim everyday for a number of minutes based on the date of the month; February 1st: one minute, February 2nd: two minutes, and eventually adding a minute everyday until 28 minutes at the end of the month.

The trio are among hundreds of swimmers up and down the coast who are doing Freezbrury to raise funds for Pieta House, the Samaritans, Shine a Light Suicide and Mental Health Awareness Group.

But over the weekend, it was too dangerous for them to go for their daily dip in aid of the charities, but that didn’t stop them from braving the ice cold water.

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ITV- FEB 26TH, 2021

Hundreds of sea-swimming novices are taking to the ocean in February for the aptly named ‘Freezbrury’ challenge.

It involves getting into cold water every day of the month, wearing only your bathing suit.

Each day, swimmers stay in the water one minute longer than the last, eventually building up to a full 28 minutes.

The challenge was created to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention.

The Irish Sea is at its coldest during the month of February, with temperatures averaging around 6 degrees celsius.

Getting into cold water also has great physical benefits.

It’s been linked to improved circulation, skin and in some cases, even acts as a pain reliever.

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KILKENNY PEOPLE – FEB, 2021

A group of brave Kilkenny people are taking the plunge this month for a good cause.
The Kilkenny Freezbrury group have been dipping their toes – and more – in the chilly waters of the Nore to raise money for charity,
Now in its third year, Freezbrury is a challenge created by Irish adventurer Damian Browne, which challenges people physically and mentally through cold water immersion in the month of February each year.
Participants immerse in cold water on February 1 for one minute, two minutes on February 2 and carry on the whole way up to February 28, when they stay in the water for 28 minutes!
According to Neil Gunning and Searlait Doyle from Kilkenny’s Freezbrury group, rules are simple: You must immerse in swimwear only, with no wetsuits or boots allowed. Immersion is at chest height and everyone must dunk at least once during the time.
The challenge has been taken on nationwide by people in support of raising awareness around mental health and to raise funds for mental health charities.

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