A former Royal Marines Commando taking part in a series of 'cold water plunges' to raise money for charity, has taken his first dip in the sea in East Devon.

Tim Crossin, from Poole completed his second out of 31 dips around Britain at Exmouth beach on Monday January 2, supported by around 30 people.

Tim is taking a cold-water dip, at 31 locations – one a day – throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, starting and finishing in Poole to raise funds for RMA-The Royal Marines Charity, cancer charity Lymphoma Action and veterans’ mental health organisation Rock2Recovery.

Tim has beaten three lymphoma cancers in the last four years. The 59-year-old had his hopes of remission devastated this December when he was told that his stem cell transplant had not been successful, with further cancers diagnosed.

Despite this debilitating news, Tim is pressing ahead with his fundraising campaign which will see him circumnavigate the British coastline solo, in his campervan, and taking a cold-water dip every day for 31 days.

Tim Crossin said: “As a former Royal Marine, I’d like to be running up a mountain naked, with a fridge on my back, or swimming the Channel dragging a piano, or something else mad and extreme, but all the chemotherapy has severely damaged my lungs limiting my physical capability. Although I can’t swim for long, I thought I could raise some money and awareness by doing short swims around the country every day in January.

“Cancer can, if you let it, take over your life and become the only topic of conversation. I decided to change the narrative as well as do something good and to give back. The cold water takes your mind off your problems, focusing your thoughts on that exact moment. I have found it extremely beneficial in dealing with the emotional and physical challenges and demands of living with cancer.

“I am looking forward to meeting members of the public and swimming groups, veterans and serving Armed Forces personnel who will take the plunge with me and enjoy a hot drink and chat afterwards. The support of the communities I visit will be key to this initiative.”

To donate visit, www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/colddipcommando