COPE Galway wishes to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to the over 700 swimmers and dippers who registered to take part in the COPE Galway Christmas Swim over Christmas Week (20-26 December ).
The adapted event saw dippers braving the cold waters of Galway Bay in their own time during the week or at their chosen ‘wave’ time on Christmas morning in Salthill, despite the heavy rain and following strict safety guidelines.
“While it was a different event to usual again this year, we were bowled over by the many messages of support throughout the week and fantastic photos of the brave individuals, teams and schools warming up after their swim from all over the county” said event organiser Lynia O’Brien.
“There were lots of familiar faces too, from annual swimmers and seasoned dippers to supporters like Connacht Rugby’s Andy Friend, actor Nora Jane Noone, singer Lucia Evans and many more.
“It’s clear that while family time like this is so important at Christmas”, continued Lynia, “the Galway community never forgets people who experience extra hardships such as the sense of isolation due to older age, or from having escaped a violent home, or if they have no home to call their own. Even while we all face our own challenges with the pandemic, it’s a particularly difficult and lonely time for many more.
This Christmas, thanks to the incredibly hard work of our volunteers, staff and the generosity of the Galway Community, we delivered over 400 hampers and over 500 gifts to people using our services.”
COPE Galway relies on funds raised from this event to support people in the community throughout the year who are lonely, isolated and without a stable home. Their homeless service is currently working with 120 single people and over 70 families with 200 children this December.
Women and children continue to avail of the organisation’s 24-hour domestic abuse refuge and outreach service during what is often an exceptionally violent time of year in abusive homes. COPE Galway’s teams are also making sure that older people, who have been more isolated than ever during the pandemic, have the support and contact they need to reduce social isolation and ensure good nutrition.
In 2020, COPE Galway supported 2,616 people across the city and?county through?their services for homelessness, domestic?abuse?and services for older people. “Our services have seen more people than ever in need of support again this year”, concluded Lynia.
“We are so very grateful to our supporters throughout the year and to the people of Galway who for 32 years now have embraced this Christmas challenge to raise funds that go directly towards keeping these vital services operating. Thank you so very much.”
