01
Nov
2023
01
Nov
2023
Anyone who follows Dr Ravi Jain on social media will have seen him regularly submerging himself in ice baths and swimming in the river behind his clinic at all times of the year.
The founder of the Riverbanks Aesthetics and Wellness Clinic in East Hyde has even given talks on the benefits of cold water swimming and immersion at industry events. But now he's taking his passion for the cold to the next level by undertaking a gruelling ice swimming challenge to raise money for the eating disorder charity BEAT.
On December 1, Dr Jain will be swimming in a loch in Scotland where water temperatures are expected to be below 5℃ or lower, in line with the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) guidelines. If this wasn't tough enough, he will be swimming a mile in these icy conditions.
The guidelines also say Dr Jain can’t rest or touch the ground and has to enter and exit the water unassisted. He also has to have witnesses and a medical team on standby for the real risk of severe hypothermia.
The charity Dr Jain is swimming for, BEAT, is the UK’s eating disorder charity and aims to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders, and it’s a charity close to his heart.
He says, “This journey I’ve been on to swim an ice mile has been incredibly challenging but also deeply personal. From my family’s own experience of supporting a loved one suffering from an eating disorder, I know firsthand the toll eating disorders take not only on the afflicted individual but also on their families.
“What is particularly important to me about BEAT is their commitment to support those affected by eating disorders regardless of the state of their physical health. My daughter was fortunate to receive treatment from the local eating disorder services for anorexia a few years ago; however, the current system fails the majority as only 6% of those suffering from eating disorders are actually underweight, and the current system often requires that a set of physical criteria including a certain weight are met to access specialist support.
“BEAT embraces this understanding of these illnesses as mental disorders and works to bridge the gap in the system, striving to ensure that each person facing an eating disorder receives the care and support they need.
“Any donations made will pave the way for individuals and families to access life-changing support, which they may not have access to otherwise and will help BEAT continue to expand their support services and programmes across the country, as well as campaign for early support and changes to the current mental health system’s management of eating disorders.
“In conquering the ice mile, I hope that I will be able to fundraise a substantial amount to donate to BEAT, whose cause continues to resonate deep within me and that the waves I make through my icy endeavours will serve as a testament to the resilience of those fighting eating disorders.”
You can donate by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/page/ravi-jain-icemile
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