When it comes to charitable activities I, Ian Grace, am a couch potato. People send me their 'JustGiving' links and I donate, straightforward and easy. I am not one for climbing every mountain, searching high and low, following every byway on every path I know. 

And now with that little ditty foremost in your thoughts I can confirm that next month I will be arising from that terminal charitable slumber. 

On the evening of December 11th, you will not find me skipping down a sunny hillside of blooming spring flowers with the statuesque Alps towering in the background rather, and for reasons still unbeknownst to me, I'll be in fancy dress jumping into the icy waters of Parliament Hill lido (swimming pool) with nothing more than darkened wintry evening skies as a backdrop. I will be partaking in what is being marketed to me as a 'Festive Chilly Dip'. 

Cambridge English describes festive as follows: 

Festive - adjective
/'fes.tIv/

having or producing happy and enjoyable feelings suitable for a festival or other special occasion: 

• a festive mood/occasion 
• the hall looked very festive with its Christmas tree

I am guessing Cambridge English forgot about the "festive fool in a silly festive costume swimming festively in cold water on an icy winter's evening" description. 

But, this is all for a great case, I'm raising funds for Rays of Sunshine in what is their final formal fundraising activity from a fantastic two year partnership with Deutsche Bank. 

I know we're at the end of the year and you've had a lot of asks on your finances already but if you can spare just £5-£10 that would be fantastic. And to help things along if you help me raise over £300 I will turn the chilly dip into a chilly swim and breaststroke forwards one length and backstroke the next. And if I raise £500 I will sing "Climb Every Mountain" while doing those two lengths. And of course all will be done festively. 

So one final push and let's support the dreams for children struggling with serious illnesses. 

Merry Festivities everyone!