Strip & Dip 2018: 'We all came with our problems. And we left the

Yesterday saw a record-breaking 2,505 women take to the seas donning birthday suits rather than bathing suits in a successful bid to break the World Record for the number of skinny dippers at one location. It was all in aid of raising awareness and funds for children’s cancer charity Aoibheann’s Pink Tie. Organiser Dee Featherstone spoke with Ray D’Arcy about starting the “Strip & Dip”. On Tuesday, several women who bared it all sat down with Ray to share their stories and their motivation for wanting to take part.

Siobhán from Clane said the event was “phenomenal” and praised its emphasis on fun and support.

“It was my first dip and it won’t be my last”.

She told Ray that her sister Bernie passed away from cancer at the age of 52. Siobhán was by her side throughout her treatment.

“I did a lot of her appointments with her. We laughed. We laughed at people. We laughed at ourselves. And it got us through a lot. We were still laughing up until the very last. She was a fantastic lady, absolutely fantastic. She fought hard for 8 years.”

A few months after Bernie’s death, Siobhán’s sister Janet, who lived in Australia, also died from cancer.

“I got a text message from my sister Janet on the Wednesday saying she’d just been diagnosed…and she was gone the following Tuesday.”

Lorraine loved the experience so much she would “do it again tomorrow”. She told Ray that she was doing the “Strip & Dip” for herself. She has had cancer three times (skin cancer, breast cancer and blood cancer), starting when she just 20 years old.

“When I was in the Mater Hospital I had a poster that was up on the wall that I could look at every day. I was in isolation on my own and it said: ‘Hey cancer, you picked the wrong bitch’. And that’s the way I look at it, you know? There’s only one winner in this and for now, it’s me.“

Lorraine thought the highlight of the day was being surrounded by so many inspiring women.

“We’re all on cloud nine and we just haven’t come down yet. We’re buzzing from the exhilaration of it all.“

Claire told Ray that she was feeling pretty self-conscious before taking the plunge. She had never done anything like that before. She too is a cancer survivor. All her doubts were washed away pretty quickly.

“It is the most amazing, exhilarating thing I have ever, ever done in my life. And I would do it again tomorrow, without a doubt.”

Listen back to the whole interview on the Ray D’Arcy Show here.