Beneficiaries announced for Christmas Day Swim
The three beneficiaries of this year's Christmas Day Swim at Youghal Quay have been announced.
As with every year, North Tipperary Hospice will be one of the recipients of funding raised by the popular event, which will be held for the 33rd time this Christmas. The hospice will be joined this year by Nenagh Special Summer Camp and Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club Search & Recovery.
Nenagh Special Summer Camp started in 1988 and has grown in strength since then. It provides a week-long camp for children with special needs. Activities include swimming, horse-riding, Zumba, yoga, and arts and crafts. Trips to playgrounds and pet farms are also organised. Each week has a leader, adult supervisors and teenagers. Children are paired with a teenage buddy for a week.
Nenagh Special Summer Camp resumed this year after our covid break and it was wonderful to be back in action. We are thrilled to be one of the beneficiaries of the Christmas Day charity swim at Youghal Quay this year and we would like to thank the committee and all involved.
Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club was founded in 1992. It has in the time since established a voluntary search and recovery service that plays a very important role searching for missing people, locally and across the country. Lough Derg SAC divers were involved in the recovery of two bodies from the Shannon this year, as well as a search for a missing woman from the Ballina area off the coast of Clare.
The club’s voluntary team also searches for missing equipment and other valuable property that has fallen overboard from boats on Lough Derg. They take part in underwater cleanup operations at lakeside amenity sites, and assists local groups with scientific and historical research on Lough Derg. We also provide boat cover to other clubs and individuals involved in water-based activities, such as triathlons and rowing events.
Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club relies solely on membership fees, street collections, grants and donations in order to provide the search and recovery service. It is presently trying to raise funds for the purchase of a new van to tow its boat to sites when called upon for search and recovery operations.
We are therefore very grateful to the organisers of the Youghal Christmas Day Swim for including us among the recipients of proceeds from this year's swim.
The Christmas Day Swim has raised close to half a million euro since its inception. Every cent raised is divided between the local beneficiaries.
Sponsorship cards are already in circulation and all contributions are gratefully accepted. Anyone who wants a sponsorship card can contact Tony O'Flaherty on 087-299 8634.