TV presenter Ayo Akinwolere is calling on Londoners to join him in taking on a freezing challenge this month to raise money to help people experiencing homelessness.  
 
Ex-Blue Peter presenter Ayo, who now presents for the Premier League, Football Focus and The BBC’s Inside Out, will be taking part in Crisis Icebreaker challenge, jumping in to Brockwell Lido’s ice-cold waters, alongside a whole host of fancy-dress clad swimmers, all helping the national homelessness charity to support homeless people.  
 
Ayo has a passion for swimming, having once set the world record for the deepest location open water swim, by swimming across the Palau trench in the Pacific Ocean, having just learnt to swim. He then created the Swim Challenge, an inner-city swimming initiative, to get more people swimming.    
 
The Icebreaker Challenge will take place on Sunday 14 December at 11am and is the first of three events across London this winter. The event costs £28.87 to enter – the cost of reserving a place for someone who is homeless at one of Crisis’ Christmas centres – and swimmers can either jump in, swim a width or take part in a relay with three friends. 
 
Swimmers are also encouraged to get friends and family involved by sponsoring their involvement, as the money raised will go towards Crisis’ year-round services which help people to leave homelessness behind for good.     
 
Ayo said: “I’m really looking forward to taking part in the event. I know it’s going to be tough but it’s all for a good cause, helping Crisis support people who are homeless both at Christmas and all year round.  
 
“Homelessness can and should be ended, no one should have to face having to sleep out in the freezing cold or at any time of year or having to live in unsafe temporary accommodation. We can all play a part in helping Crisis reach that goal, so come and join me and help us raise as much as we can to help Crisis.”   
 
Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “The Crisis Icebreaker challenge is an opportunity to take a solo icy plunge or make a big splash with your friends to help raise money and fund our vital work to end homelessness.  
 
“Everyone in our society deserves a safe and stable home. But right now, many thousands of people are denied this basic human need. Face the freeze this winter and help us support a person who is homeless this Christmas and all year round.”   

Sign up for the Icebreaker challenge here: https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/crisis-icebreaker/