Up to 50 young swimmers from Mayo's Castlebar Swimming Club will swim the full equivalent of the River Shannon's 360km length in a single day on June 21st.
The event, hosted at Lough Lannagh Swimming Pool in Castlebar, aims to raise funds for the Sunflower Children’s Hospice for the west of Ireland.
It was originally scheduled to take place in May, but was postponed as a mark of respect following the sudden and deeply sad passing of much-loved club member and committee volunteer, Berni Kilboyle.
The young swimmers from eleven schools across the region will take to the water together, supported by coaches, volunteers and families. Schools taking part include:
- St Joseph's Castlebar
- St Gerard's DLS College Castlebar
- Davitt College Castlebar
- Sacred Heart Secondary School Westport
- Gaelscoil na Cruaiche
- Balla Secondary School
- Snugboro Primary School
- Gaelscoil Raifteirí
- Castlebar Primary School
- Breaffy National School
- Ballyvary Primary School.
Shannon Challenge — Young swimmers from Castlebar Swimming Club gather with supporters of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice ahead of their bid to swim the 360km equivalent of the River Shannon in a single day. Photo: Castlebar Swimming Club
Some 70 per cent of all funds raised will go directly to the Sunflower Children's Hospice project, with the remaining 30 per cent supporting youth sport, coaching, and community wellbeing through Castlebar Swimming Club, a fully volunteer-run organisation.
The Sunflower Children’s Hospice will be Ireland’s first children’s hospice outside of Dublin, providing specialist palliative and respite care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across the West of Ireland.
Families across the west of Ireland currently face long and difficult journeys to access specialist children's palliative and hospice care. The swimmers of Castlebar Swimming Club chose to take on the full length of Ireland's longest river as a symbol of solidarity, to show families across the west that their community stands with them.
The Swimathon will also be an opportunity for club members to remember Berni Kilboyle, whose sudden passing in May was deeply felt throughout the club and wider community.
Berni was a cherished member of Castlebar Swimming Club, a dedicated committee volunteer and mother of some of the club’s own swimmers, the organisers state.
“She was warm, kind and full of life. Passionate, dedicated and always willing to give her time to her community. Her enthusiasm and commitment helped the club achieve so much, and her memory will be carried with great fondness by all who knew her,” they said.
“As the club comes together for this special event, members wish to acknowledge Berni and her family and remember the lasting contribution she made to the club and everyone fortunate enough to know her,” they said.
