The seventh annual Galway Bay swim, in aid of Cancer Care West, will take place on Saturday July 28.
Approximately 40 swimmers will take part in the 13km swim from Aughinish, Co Clare, to Blackrock Tower in Salthill, Galway, in the hope of raising €50,000 for the charity. The majority of these swimmers are triathletes and open water swimmers from across Ireland. Clare man Chris Bryan, Irish international open water swimmer, who recently narrowly missed qualifying for this year’s Olympics will be taking part and will be aiming to break the record of two hours 31 minutes.
The swim, which is now in its seventh year, is named after the late Frances Thornton, has seen almost 100 swimmers make successful crossings and has raised close to €300,000 for Cancer Care West. Cancer Care West provides accommodation and support for cancer patients and their families in the west of Ireland, with services provided in counties Galway, Clare, Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, and north Tipperary. Cancer Care West relies heavily on fundraising and charitable donations to meet its costs as all of its services are provided at no cost to patients or their families.
The organisers and participants of this years swim will also give remembrance to two of the Irish open water swimming fraternity, Owen Hughes who drowned recently in Westport, and Pairic Casey who died last weekend while attempting a solo English Channel swim.
For further details on the swim contact Kevin Thornton on 086 3571714 or galwaybayswim @gmail.com. Details are also available at www.facebook.com/galwaybayswim
