Stephanie Ruddy

Wow day 17. 

It has been quite a journey. 

Most days just doing the deed and getting into the water.

The hardest part is getting down to the beach when it is so warm in bed! Today, it wasn't so cold getting up, but it is raining here. I was curious about what it would be like down at the beach. Wet. yep. haha. 

Fortunately this morning there was just a slight sprinkle and it was not windy. The water was okay in some bits and all of a sudden it was absolutely icy. It was exhilarating! 

3 more days to go. 

Daffodil Day Dip Day 10

It was a very quick and cautious Dip this morning. My Daffodil Cap stayed safe if the car as I didn't want it to blow away. 

Lady night was wild windy here. There were a lot of branches down across the roads on the way to the beach.

The sea is up, and very unpleasant.

A sand blast walking down to the water, stung my legs.

The water was warm  ... compared to the icy cold wind blowing.

I stayed close to the shore.  Fully submerged. Dip done.

I was really scared,  not just the bigger sea but the water is so dark today.  #10 done ✔️ 

A super stunning day! WOW. 

A great day to brave the cold water and dive in. 

Maybe I shouldn't have warned up in the sun before my dip. Hind site is all good and well, Ha ha. 

Today is my 8th consecutive day Dipping in the ocean (off-season) and it is all for a great cause...Raising funds for a cancer free future. 

This is a link to my page https://www.daffodilday.com.au/fundraisers/stephanieruddy/

As a little girl cancer took my PapaIt took a bite out of my mums legIt took my dads best friend It's taken strong father like figures/mentors and role models I've been lucky to haveTaken dearly loved and bloody good humans.... mother figures and friendsAunty Pauline, Grannie...A number of my friends are fighting cancer privately And Cancer had had a good go at my girlfriend's from school... let me say thank God my girls are so stubborn and tough!

I've listened to many stories this week about cancer. Most had not shared before. Some the survival others a loss and their grief.

I googled cancer in Australia and this is a copy of what came up:"Over 500,000 people in Australia are alive who were diagnosed with cancer in the previous five years. Close to one million people have received a diagnosis in the last ten years, and about two in five Australians will face a cancer diagnosis by age 85." The article went on. 

In Australia, about 2 in 5 people (or 43%) will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

The Daffodil Day Dip challenge is all about raising funds for world-class cancer research and the how it brings for powerful new treatments to come.

It would be nice to just wiggle my nose like Jeanie would do on Bewitched and for all of it to "Be Gone!" However,  I've tried that, and it didn't work. 

Soooo. I joined the challenge. I've Dipped 8 consecutive days with 12 to go... I trust we will find a way for a cancer free future. ✨️ 

Today's swim was nearly 8am after finishing work.  The water temp was 17.8°, and it was hard getting into it. But i did. I'm finding the most surprising thing sound the Daffodil Dip,  is the conversations of Cancer that are coming up... people opening up about their experience of cancer - having it or  supporting someone through it. 

Cancer touches everyone in one way or another.  I welcome the day is no longer in our lives

A reflective day.  It was hard to get out of my cumfy warm bed today and the thought of getting into cold water did more than send shivers up my spine.  It felt just down right ridiculous. No excuse was valid. 

This is not for me, it is not about me or for me... 

I did the Dip. I didn't want to physically or mentally,  but my heart got me over the line. Well into the water to be straight. 

Yay.  Small celebration. Always celebrate wins I believe,  no matter the size of triumph. No fan fare.  Tick 

Day 3 started with self talk and questioning why I should get out of my perfectly warm bed and into the cold dark water.  I settled for cold water,  and waited for the sun to come up,  instead of a pre dawn dip. 

Driving down to the beach I was wondering if there was anyone else in Port Macquarie doing the Daffodil Dip too. 

To my surprise, I ran into some lovely ladies down at the beach who are doing the Daffodil Dip as a group, and invited me to join them,  which is so lovely. 

The water was warmer today - 18° and lots of fish. Knowing it is 9° out of the water kept me in there a bit longer than I planned. Cold air on a wet body isn't something I look forward to,  yet. 

There was another lady at the beach today who had signed up for her second year, and shared her story around why she's involved again. It was very touching. 

There are so many types of cancer.  They all suck 

It was more challenging to do today knowing the water is so cold at the beach. I wasn't dreading going for the dip.  It was more like i was "doing the deed"! Ha! 

On the flip side, I knew i could do it. 

The bonus? Well,  I've met some really nice people on this journey and it's only day 2!AND people are talking about cancer who don't like to talk about it.  It's helping them to let go. Process. Release. 

Dammit "The Cancer" (as mum would call it), has taken way too many people.  I really trust we can get a cure, that's accessible and affordable! .... even better would be a prevention for cancer's... ALL of them.  

So. Day 2 done. Dusted. Tick

I felt a nervous excited before my first dip today. Looking at the water,  it was so dark and freezing! Armoured up with the Daffodil cap on I went... all the way. 

It was so cold it hurt my bones  but not for long.  Tick. I did it.... no turning back now. I can't especially with sponsors!

Thank you so much you guys who have donated to the cause. I am incredibly grateful! 

I can't work out how to make not I've done dip#1 and will update the tally board when I figure it out. Rest assured I'm on track 1 down....19 to go! Brrrr 

Let's find a way to Flick Cancer to the curb!