Sunrise may be a bit brighter this Sunday because of the reflective light off so many bare bums that never see the light of day, plunging into Lake Burley Griffin for the Winter Solstice Nude Charity Swim.

If you’re going to wear anything, wear sunglasses.       

Getting your kit off has never been more serious – this skinny dip brings people together in support of mental health and raises vital funds for Lifeline Canberra’s crisis support services.

Every week, we lose a Canberran to suicide.

Hundreds of Canberrans now flock to this annual event (420+ last year, raising a record $94,024) and this year – the 10^th year – the target is $110,000.

Helping to reach the target is Braddon resident and public servant Marcia Keegan, who’s done the nude dip three times.

Having already braved skydiving, bungee jumping and camel racing, Marcia reckons the nude winter solstice dip is a breeze.

“Actually this is pretty chill – literally – it’s great fun,” she said. “I’m fairly comfortable.”

Marcia has refined her water entry technique over the years.

“Inching your way in is not the way to do it,” she said. “You’ve just got to run in. As much as you that you can get under the water, the easier it is. If you’re in the water up to your neck, then it’s okay.”

Apparently, the hardest part is submerging everything that’s south of the belly button. Last year, Marcia managed to stay in the 11-degree water for about five minutes and she always takes the plunge with friends.

Ten years ago, in 2016, a brave man by the name of Ian Lindeman took his closest friends for a nude dip in Lake Burley Griffin for “something a bit different”, as well as supporting a good cause.

The novelty’s caught on.

“I’m reasonably comfortable with nudity to begin with,” Marcia said, “but I think also when you’re around 400 people who are also nude and fairly unselfconscious, it’s very easy to be unselfconscious yourself. You realise that you’ve got bodies of all different shapes, sizes, colours and ages – everyone’s got fat rolls, everyone’s got cellulite.”

So at precisely 7:12am this Sunday at Yarralumla Beach, all bets (and clothes) are off because nudity laws do not apply (Lifeline Canberra has a licence to avoid the maximum penalty for indecent exposure, which is one-year imprisonment and a $3,200 fine).

As for the pain factor, Marcia said it hurts more out of the water than in.

“When you get in, the blood rushes from your extremities and into your core but once you get out and start warming up very slowly and the blood starts returning to your extremities, that’s when you feel it.”

All funds raised go to Lifeline Canberra 24/7support service 13 11 14 and to date, the swim has raised more than $369,000.

Lifeline Canberra CEO Carrie Leeson said there was something incredibly powerful about seeing hundreds of people gather at sunrise, in the middle of winter, to support one another and stand behind mental health.

“The winter solstice swim embodies vulnerability, courage and human connection, values that sit at the heart of Lifeline Canberra’s work every single day,” Carrie said.

To register for the Winter Solstice Nude Charity Swim on Sunday 21 June, visit: wintersolsticeswim.com