The swim will go ahead in Lake Burley Griffin just after 7am on Monday, June 21.

You can only participate if you are registered. https://wintersolsticeswim.com/

The swim raises money for Lifeline and encourages swimmers to wash away negativity and feel a sense of renewal for the upcoming solar year by stripping off and swimming in the lake's chilly waters on the shortest day of the year.

Last year's Nude Charity Swim was restricted to two people because of Covid. The year before, about 170 people braved the lake.

This year, organisers are hoping for 300 plus. In order to swim naked - or doing anything naked - in Lake Burley Grffin, you have to apply for a "nudity instrument", one of the swim's organisers, Ben Johnston said. They have applied for one with a cap of 400 people.

Even with last year's restricted event, they raised just around $20,000. This year, $80,000 is the target.

The Ian Lindeman Memorial Nude Charity Swim, to give it its full title, was started by Ian Lindeman in 2017 as his son struggled with his mental health. All the proceeds of the swim go to Lifeline Canberra which helps people who are in extreme distress. Ian passed away in 2019, two years after his son.

The family said Ian was passionate about running an event that not only captured Canberra's community spirit, but also gave participants the opportunity to re-invigorate their own spirit in the new solar year.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: