Nieuwjaarsduik for Beatrix Children's Hospital

On the 1st of January I will participate in the yearly 'Nieuwjaarsduik' (New Year's Dive), taking a plunge into the new year by taking a plunge into the freezing North Sea. Unfortunately there are many who will start the year in less fortunate circumstances, including young children with a chronic illness who are stuck in the hospital.

My sister is a nurse at the Beatrix Children's Hospital in Groningen, The Netherlands, and will spend her New Year's eve taking care of such children. The Beatrix Children's hospital has as goal to ensure that the child has the best possible start in life so that in adulthood, he or she suffers as little hindrance as possible from his or her disease or disorder. As part of the University Medical Center Groningen they perform active research with a focus on the threats to development and the barriers the disorders raise on the road to adulthood, and consider it essential to keep the experience of sick children who are admitted to hospital as pleasant as possible.

All money donated to my frosty swim will go towards the Beatrix Children's Hospital, to help support their wonderful work in giving these children a better start.