Freezing cold temperatures, bad weather and a swarm of jellyfish have not stopped Denis Galea from diving into the sea every winter for the past 14 years in aid of charity.

Mr Galea has been taking part in the Thomas Smith Charity Swim, traditionally held after Christmas, ever since 2000.

This year swimmers are taking the plunge off the pier in Balluta Bay tomorrow at 10.30am.

Mr Galea lives right across the bay so he is one of the first to see the choppy and chilly waves on the day.

However, apart from once when he was abroad, he has not missed an edition.

“Doing it no matter what is part of the challenge. Sometimes the event happens to fall on a beautiful day reminiscent of summer, however, there have been days when I wondered whether we’d be able to brave the waters.

“Somehow, God willing, we’ve always managed. Last year the swim fell on a really windy and rainy day. At one point there was a short spell of sunshine and we all took the plunge… until it started to rain again an hour later,” the 52-year-old general manager and director of Thomas Smith told this newspaper.

On a couple of occasions, the Civil Protection Department even had to clear the bay of a jellyfish infestation.

The cold weather never scares away the swimmers who head to Balluta Bay for the annual dip in aid of charity. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Mr Galea is not the only one who has taken part in the event since the beginning. The others are Thomas Smith director Joe Gerada and a manager at the same company, Anton Buttigieg, who actually started off the swim in 1998 when he made a bet with some friends.

He took the plunge again in 1999 and was then joined by his colleagues at Thomas Smith the following year.

Only eight swimmers turned up for that swim in 2000 but the number of participants has kept growing since . The largest number of swimmers ever was 299 in 2013. And despite the bad weather, 252 swimmers took part last year, collecting a total of €12,000. The largest sum collected so far was €15,000 in 2013.

The swim has turned into a public event where participants are encouraged to raise €50 each for the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Some take the plunge with their family. The oldest swimmers, both 78, were Alfred Abela and Wilfred Pirotta, while the youngest so far is five-year-old Julia Testa. She is planning to jump in again this year with her two-year-old sister Eva and her parents Nicole Testa Bickle and Christopher Testa.

Donations can be made to HSBC Bank (Malta) plc, 32, Merchants Street, Valletta, account 033 080037 002.

The public can also donate €4.66 by texting 5061 8178 or €11.65 on 5061 9279.

Taking the plunge in 12 steps

• Email charityswim@tcsmith.com or call 2205 8058 or for a subscription form.

• Beg your friends and family to sponsor you.

• Jump out of bed on Sunday and banish thoughts of your cosy quilt.

• Go to Sliema and register.

• Strip off at the very last minute.

• Chin up and on the word “Go!” jump into the sea without hesitation.

• When in the water allow your body to stabilise.

• Swim like mad.

• When back on land, dry yourself off and put on warm clothes.

• Sip a tot of whiskey.

• Pick up your commemorative medal.

• Go home tired but happy.