Issue 151

Freezing Bear Run

29th January 2007

At Swansea we're always game for doing anything out of the ordinary. Any, if no excuse is needed for dressing up, doing crazy stunts or simply just making fools out of ourselves.

However, this Wednesday 31st January, the Medics Society will be doing exactly that but with a good excuse and an even better cause.

For most, Wednesday afternoons are about sporting fixtures, training or if you are anything like me; sitting at home and keeping warm. Yet at 4pm on Wednesday you will be able to see roughly 100 students and staff dressed in fancy dress running into Swansea bay, in front of the University, to get as wet as possible.

The most obvious question is why on earth would you want to do that in January? The simple explanation is that it is part of an annual fundraiser that is organised by the society. Last year the Medics Society completed a sponsored walk up the three peaks of Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon. They managed to raise an outstanding total of just over £800 and hope that this year will be even more successful.

They will be taking part in this sponsored event and putting all of the funds raised this year to three different charities: the South West Wales Cancer Institute, the South Wales Air Ambulance and SKIP (Students for Kids International Projects) who aim to help the charity with projects working with disabled children in an orphanage in Belarus. If you can't find anyone to sponsor for this event, then don't worry. As the society will be collecting during the event and also whilst in Varsity at the post run celebrations.

Along with the Medics society, the Life Saving Club will be out in force to keep an eye on all those braving the cold. They also plan to go along with the fancy dress theme, by having a David Hasselhoff look. Joining in with the afternoon activities will be Student Union president Owen Morgan who will be revealing himself in a highly attractive pair of red speedos. Watch out ladies!

The Medics Society is part of the Medical School and represents the medical student body in terms of organising social, sporting and fundraising events. They organised a range of social events throughout last year including; a summer ball, Halloween party, curreoke (curry and karaoke!) and organising an inter-year and staff football tournament.

The Medics Society has also played an important role in helping to set up the MeSHsoc (Medical Sciences and Humanities Society) and Nursesoc (Nurse Society). They feel that it is very important to get to know those who they will be working closely with in the future and try to organise their events to include these societies.

The event promises to be quite a spectical; all those taking part are instructed to wear some sort of footwear and to bring a towel! The event is to be full stewarded and with the majority of the medical school present, I would say that you're going to be in safe hands.

Registration for the event will be taking part between 3-4pm on Wednesday, with the actual event starting at 4pm. After freezing themselves on Wednesday afternoon the Medics society plan to cap the event off with a trip to Varsity, where the event will be shown on their big plasma wide screens.

Look out for pictures of the event in the next issue of the Waterfront, or if you are feeling brave enough, walk down to the beach and support all those taking part.

If you would like more information about the event, would like to take part, or want to know more about the society in general, then please e-mail them at: medsocswansea@hotmail.co.uk

Dawn Lewis