Why a doctor from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin full of ice cold water every day this month

"During the cold spell I had to crack open the ice on top to get into the bin - that was cold!" said the A&E and air ambulance doctor
By Philip Hibble
Published 20th Jan 2021, 15:43 BST
Updated 20th Jan 2021, 15:46 BST
Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.
Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.

A doctor from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin full of ice cold water every day this month to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Scott Castell, who is an A&E doctor at Kettering Hospital and an air ambulance doctor, has decided to take on the challenge for three minutes every morning throughout January to raise money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a leading movement against suicide - the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.

"I have lost a couple of friends and family to suicide so I wanted to promote the good work that CALM does," he said.

"In my line of work I too frequently see the tragedy of people taking their own life and the devastation this can leave behind for friends and family.

"Unfortunately this is especially, but not uniquely, true in young men.

"This year has seen this so much more, and there is no time like the present to start moving forward, seeking help and building resilience to our own situation and the world around us."

Click here to see a video of Scott doing his challenge.

Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.
Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.

So why did he choose this challenge?

"It is a personal thing as I am fascinated by the benefits to the body from cold water," he said.

"I'm always keen to test myself and build my resilience wherever I can and what better way than to raise money for an incredibly important cause.

"I aim to do this first thing in the morning - work schedule dependent - when my body temperature is at its lowest, and it's the last thing I want to do.

Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.
Dr Scott Castell from Foxton has been getting into a wheelie bin of ice cold water everyday this month, to raise money for CALM. Photo by Andrew Carpenter.

"It's amazing how doing something that you don't want to do can give you the greatest sense of achievement."

And some mornings, it has certainly been cold.

"During the cold spell I had to crack open the ice on top to get into the bin - that was cold!" he added.

Scott has already smashed his fundraising target of £250 and it now sits at over £1,200.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/31daysofbin

MORE ON CALM

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Visit www.thecalmzone.net for more information.