Two local charities have been given a pre-Christmas boost in recent weeks after they were presented by cheques for €1,900 each from a group of dedicated swimmers from Fahan who completed a series of charity open water swims in August.
Fahan Swimmers Melissa Quigley, Colm Maguire, Ciara Steele, Kieran Toner, Fiona Kerr, Mike McGrath, Kathleen McGinley and Denis O’Leary, all completed a series of open water swim challenges in July and August to help raise money for two charities – Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Neonatal Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital.
Both charities held a special place in the hearts of these swimmers with one team member’s child being directly affected by childhood cancer whilst another swimmer’s two children made use of the life-saving facilities provided by the Neonatal Unit upon their premature delivery in the hospital.
As a group, the swimmers completed the 1.2k Moville Lighthouse Swim followed by the Gartan Swim Challenge – a 3.8k swim of Gartan Lake. The team’s third and final swim involved a 6k swim from Rathmullan to Buncrana Pier. Thanks to the support they received the group managed to raise €3,800 – an amazing €1,900 for each of their chosen charities.
Kathleen McGinley who was part of the swimming team but had to withdraw for health reasons said she was overwhelmed at everyone’s generosity.
Pictured presenting a cheque for €1,900 to the nurses at the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit in Altnagelvin Hospital are Fiona Kerr representing Fahan Swimmers 2nd from left, Kathleen McGinley, 3rd from left and her children Dara and Leah McLaughlin, both of whom spent the first two months of their lives at Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit in Altnagelvin Hospital.
“Raising funds for the neo-natal unit means so much to us because of our own personal experience. Both our children spent their first 2 months of life in the Neo Natal Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. Dara was born 10 weeks early while Leah was born 13 weeks early.
Fundraising has helped to buy essential medical equipment such as incubators and apnoea monitors for use on the ward.
“However many of the items used on a daily basis during your baby’s time in NNICU are provided by donations. The money raised by the Fahan Swimmers will be put to good use to provide a level of comfort, privacy and dignity to premature and sick babies and their parents during their stay in NNICU.”
Maura Toner who is a local spokesperson for Childhood Cancer explained that they are funding play services on St John’s paediatric cancer day unit at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and recently committed to continuing funding this position until November 2018.
The Charity is also funding a medical research project in the hospital, which investigates the benefits of complementary therapies for children receiving treatment for cancer.
CCF is delighted to fund the internationally recognised Beads of Courage™ an arts in medicine programme provided to children with cancer and helps them to understand and cope with their cancer diagnosis.
“We hope to roll out a Shared Care project in the coming months which will see investment in the 16 hospitals around Ireland who treat children for their cancer related illnesses,” said Maura, who is currently working with the Play Specialist and nursing management at the Paediatric Ward at Letterkenny University Hospital to ascertain how services can be improved for the children who are treated for their cancer treatment illnesses here in Donegal.
CCF will also continue to run awareness campaigns, including Light It Up Gold and promote the recognition of the gold ribbon as the symbol of childhood cancer.
“The charity is also advocating for the development of peer to peer support for parents and improved services for children with cancer and their families in the New National Cancer Strategy 2016-2025 and was honoured to host the Parents and Survivors Track (Childhood Cancer International) of the 48th Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in at The Convention Centre in Dublin last month,” Maura said.
She added that anyone wishing to help CCF will have a perfect opportunity to do so on Christmas Day.
“We’re delighted that our annual Christmas swim for Childhood Cancer Foundation will once again take place at Ludden Beach, Buncrana at 12 noon on Christmas Day. Further details and sponsor cards are available from info@childhoodcancer.ie We are very grateful to everyone who supports this event,” Maura concluded.
