The Galway Bay Swim in aid of Cancer Care West has been renamed the Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim 2008 and takes place on Saturday August 9.
The event has been named in honour of Frances Thornton who passed away recently from cancer after a long battle with the disease.
Her son, Kevin Thornton, who has been instrumental in reigniting the swim as an annual event, will take to the water along with Ronan Collins, Colin Duffy, Jim Colleran, Andrew Flanagan, Barry O’Neill, Michael Heffernan, Donal Mahon, Simon Flatley, Kate Coyle, Martin Kenirons, Shane O’Neill, Cathal Codyre, and Kate Varley.
The swim from Auginish in Co Clare to Palmer’s Rock in Salthill is a distance of roughly 13 kilometres and has raised more than €50,000 for Cancer Care West in the last two years.
This year’s swim has the most swimmers to date ready to face the test of endurance and mental strength. Training for this event has involved many hours swimming up and down in the swimming pool and along the promenade in Salthill in varying conditions. Trial swims have included swimming from Blackrock to Mutton Island and back, a distance of just over five kilometres - a little under half that of the Bay itself.
The water temperature is approximately 15 degrees Celsius. The weather conditions are unpredictable, and swimmers will have to try to avoid seals and jellyfish. The swimmers will be supported by the RNLI who will coordinate a team of safety boats and sea kayaks.
The swim starts at 2pm. The swimmers should arrive at Palmer’s Rock (across from the Waterfront Hotel ) in Salthill between 5pm and 6pm on Saturday August 9.
Those wishing to sponsor the swim may contact Ronan on 087 - 9919107, Kevin on 086 - 3571714, or visit www.cancercarewest.ie
