The content in this preview is based on the last saved version of your email - any changes made to your email that have not been saved will not be shown in this preview.
We are dipping in
to see how Elsa is doing
with her Wild Swim challenge
Elsa set herself the considerable challenge of swimming every day off the shores of Orkney Island, Scotland throughout March.
After smashing through previous targets, with your support, her final target for the challenge is to raise £7,000 in memory of Robert Burton and to preserve a part of Ernest Shackleton's history on South Georgia.
“Gusting 45mph on the beach and definitely the coldest swim of the challenge so far. I took a photo of me in the sea, just to prove I really do it .” (Elsa's March 8 update)
Elsa’s challenge ends
on 31 March.
She has kept the daily dips up through gales, storms, on frosted beaches and also on those gorgeous sparkling, but still frigid, mornings.
March 21 - Thank you video with 10 days to go.
Despite the freezing (literally) temperatures Elsa does not wear a wetsuit, preferring the full immersive experience. She usually swims alone and has sometimes been joined by some interesting birds; Swans landed next her in the water, Shell Ducks flew in, a Cormorant warmed its wings nearby in the early sun and she has also seen Oyster Catchers. One day she even saw an Otter.
Elsa's updates are posted on
March 1: “I had my swim just before lunch today. It was bright but really windy for the first day; the water was SOOO cold.”
March 2: “Another day, another South Georgia hat! The weather was bright again today but with a pretty cold wind. I got nicely exfoliated by the sand whipped up in the 40mph cross shore gusts! The sea was pretty choppy too, so lots of splash back and a little salt water inhaled too."
March 3: "After an awful day of weather the sun actually came out for my swim, it didn't make it any warmer though! - Delighted to have raised £445 already. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far."
March 4 and 5: “Really lucky to have two days in a row of brilliant weather, calm and bright. I've thoroughly enjoyed these swims.”
March 6: “So Happy”
March 7: “Flat calm but 1 degree on the beach and ice on the ground, felt a bit more like SG!
March 8: “Gusting 45mph on the beach and definitely the coldest swim of the challenge so far. I took a photo of me in the sea, just to prove I really do it .”
March 9: “Another windy day, with a seal for company.”
March 10: “Much less windy than the last few days, so enjoyed it rather more - wearing my “Endurance” Tshirt on the beach.”
March 11 - "What can I say, a really wild swim..."
March 12 - "Thankfully a bit better than yesterday!"
March 13 - "Very windy today so a pretty splashy dip, goggles essential." 
March 14 - "What a corker - sunshine and beautiful waves, a real treat." 
March 15 - "We made it to £5000! Huge thanks to everyone, half way through the challenge and all your donations are pushing me on. I've been blown away by the response. The weather has been pretty erratic over the last few days, but it all adds to the adventure. I never thought we would reach £5k and can't thank everyone enough." 
March 16 Calm and cold.
March 17 Swimming in Stromness, Orkney for Stromness, South Georgia
March 18 - Stromness again, the town looking lovely
March 19 - Very windy, a bit bumpy out on the waves! 
March 20 - Wild and bright at Marwick
March 21 - Icy early morning dip!
Stromness whaling station Manager’s Villa, Island of South Georgia.
As we send this out, Elsa is still a few strokes off her fundraising target. Why not check how she is doing at the link below, and if needs be, help get her reach her goal...or better still “smash it”!
Elsa's final target for the challenge is to raise £7,000. She is doing the challenge in the name of Robert (Bob) Burton. Robert was one of South Georgia’s greatest ambassadors and advocates and also a previous Director of the South Georgia Museum.
The monies raised will go to support a project Robert had a particular interest in, the preservation and promotion of the Stromness Whaling Station Manager’s Villa. The historic building that Ernest Shackleton, Frank Worsley and Tom Crean found help after their 36-hour traverse of the South Georgia in 1916.
Elsa Cox was Curator of the South Georgia Museum from 2007 to 2012.

Read more background in our previous eBulletins:
Also, you are invited to join us for an online event on 29 Tuesday March on Shackleton's final journey to South Georgia on Quest in 1922
South Georgia Heritage Trust, 
Verdant Works, West Henderson's Wynd, Dundee, Scotland DD1 5BT United Kingdom