Melanie completes a night in an igloo for year-long fundraiser (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Clacton: Melanie completes a night in an igloo for year-long fundraiser

9:00am Sunday 27th January 2013 in News

A WOMAN was able to tick one more item off her 2013 bucket list after using the heavy snowfall to build and sleep in an igloo.

Melanie James, of Swallowdale, Great Clacton, vowed to do 52 new things - one for each week of the year - in a bid to raise cash for charity.

One of the challenges she set herself was building an igloo and sleeping in it overnight.

She was able to tick the chilly challenge off the list after braving the freezing weather last week.

Melanie, 35, grabbed her chance as the snow started to fall, constructing the igloo in a mammoth eight-hour building session.

She said: “This was one of the challenges I was looking forward to the most. I absolutely adore the snow and it has been a childhood dream to build an igloo and sleep in it."

Melanie layered up against the cold, opting for several layers of clothes, a sleeping bag and foil blankets.

She added: “I reckon I got about two hours of sleep in total.

“It was cold, rather uncomfortable and each time I nodded off I woke up convinced the roof was going to cave in, my claustrophobia getting the better of me.

“But I managed to survive the night and eventually got up just before 7am.

“It was a great experience."

All the cash raised through her year-long fundraiser will go to mental health charities.

People can sponsor her efforts by visiting virginmoney giving.com/meljames