BRAVE souls plunged into the icy North Sea to support a charity close to their hearts.

Helen Holmes, from Barnard Castle, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 18 and last May suffered a hypoglycaemic attack which left her with severe brain damage.

When Miss Holmes turned 30 last week (January 7), her friends would have loved to have partied with her to celebrate but instead chose to mark the occasion with a charity dip in her honour.

More than 100 people ran into the sea at Saltburn on Saturday, January 10, supported by as many on dry land, and raised thousands of pounds for Diabetes UK.

Helena Hammock, one of the organisers, said: “It was amazing, the water was freezing and it was windy but it was brilliant fun and the best way we could find to mark Helen’s birthday.

“Helen was renowned for her fancy dress and onesies so lots of people dressed up to go in the water or afterwards.

“Everyone there was saying how much she would have approved and enjoyed it if she was able to join in.”

Miss Hammock said organisers were overwhelmed by the support they received and thanked everyone who got involved or made a donation.

She said: “We set up a sponsorship webpage and set a target of raising £1,000 which we thought was possible, we got there in 24 hours and now we’re at about £12,000 with more donations coming.

“The response has been incredible and it was only a success because of people’s willingness to help, we appreciate it all.”

She particularly thanked Picture This, in Barnard Castle, which printed charity t-shirts for free.

Many of the charity dippers on Saturday had been members of the gymnastics club at Teesdale Sports Centre or attended Teesdale School with Miss Holmes.

Friends of the Holmes family in Finland also joined in with a sponsored dip in the icy waters of Lake Tuomiojärvi while her brother, Matthew, jumped in a freezing lake in Salt Lake, Utah, because he had to be in America for work.

Miss Holmes’ parents, Marion and Ray, said they were touched by the generosity of their daughter’s friends and said she would have wholeheartedly approved of the event.

They added: “Many people underestimate how serious type 1 diabetes can be.

“Although it’s too late to help Helen, it’s important that research into this disease continues.”

To make a donation visit the website justgiving.com/Takeadipfor-DiabetesUK