A FORMER Royal Marine who has survived cancer three times, and is battling it again, is taking a series of cold-water plunges around the British coastline this month.

Tim Crossin, 59, from Poole, is completing the initiative to raise funds for The Royal Marines Charity, Lymphoma Action and Rock 2 Recovery, and he will be stopping in the Lake District along the way.

Tim has beaten three Lymphoma cancers in the last four years.

He is fundraising through a series of extreme cold-water dips due to his consultant vetoing anything more physically strenuous due to his ongoing recovery programme.

Tim is doing a solo trip around Britain in a camper van, clockwise around the coast, starting and finishing in Poole.

He will be pulling on his trunks and having a swim, no matter what the temperature, weather or sea state.

Tim has backing from friend and former Royal Marine Commando, Special Forces operator and TV personality Steve ‘Titch’ Cormack from BBC’s program Speed shop, and other TV and sporting celebrities.

Tim, who runs a Personal Protection, Security and Survival focusing on ‘female self-defences’ through his company Esparta Ltd, said: “As a former Royal Marine, I’d like to be running up a mountain, naked, with a fridge on my back or swimming the Channel dragging a piano or something else mad and extreme, but all the chemotherapy has severely damaged my lungs limiting my physical capability.

“Although I can’t swim for long I thought I could raise some money and awareness by doing short swims around the country every day in January.

“Cancer can, if you let it, take over your life and become the only topic of conversation. I decided to change the narrative as well as do something good and to give back.

“The cold water takes your mind off your problems, focusing your thoughts on that exact moment, I have found it extremely beneficial in dealing with the emotional and physical challenges and demands of living with cancer.

“It’s quite a challenge and I know there are many veterans, serving personnel, swimming groups and the general public round the country who will take the plunge with me and enjoy a hot drink and chat afterwards, The support of the communities I visit will be key to this initiative.”

Tim will be in Windermere on January 12.

Donations can be made via: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/colddipcommando