Thirteen swimmers, triathletes and lifeguards are taking part in intensive training for a charity swim from the Aran Islands to Doolin in Co Clare.
The three women and 10 men will swim the 10km crossing from the pier on Inisheer, the smallest of the islands, to Doolin pier on August 21 to raise funds for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin. The participants include Aoife Cosgrove, who is from Tuam but lives in Ennis.
“Apart from the sheer joy of the challenge we hope to involve our friends and families by asking them not only to support us in our endeavours, but to help us raise funds for this year’s chosen charity, Temple Street Children’s Hospital,” she says.
“One of our swimmer’s children has been successfully treated by the wonderful staff there. It provides care to sick or injured children from all over Ireland. The hospital prides itself on striving to provide only the very best standard of care available to every single child that passes through their doors. However, the hospital’s dedicated team of carers highly relies on fundraising and the generosity of supporters nationwide to aid the hospital in strengthening its position at the forefront of paediatrics in Ireland. Currently it is raising funds for a new neurosurgery unit which will be heavily dependent on fundraising events held across the country.”
She is appealing to the public for sponsorship to assist the group in its fundraising drive. Any donation will help the children’s hospital continue its vital work.
Outgoing Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy congratulated the organisers and participants of the charity swim which will raise much needed funds for the hospital.
“This is a very exposed stretch of open water with strong currents and potentially rough seas. Intensive training has already begun to maximise chances of achieving this goal and I wish each and every one of the participants the best of luck.”
For further information log onto www.mycharity.ie/event/aranswimchallenge or www.swimaran.wordpress.com or telephone Pat Finn at (086 ) 3133602 or email [email protected]
