Scholarship and charity swim for Laois medical student

A Laois medical student and four classmates have raised almost €4000 for Domestic Abuse Support, by doing Freezebury for the month of February.

Christopher Carew, 22, from Portlaoise is studying Medicine in University College Dublin.

The chilly challenge involved swimming in the Dublin sea every day in the month of February, building from one minute on February 1st to 28 minutes on February 28th.

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It was all to aid Aoibhneas Domestic Abuse Support and with his friends Conor Gleeson, Jack Quinlan, Emmett Browne and Padraic Cagney, Chris has so far reached €3,905. 

The event is now completed, but their donation page is still open for donations- see the link below.

Meanwhile the high achieving Laois student has also received a prestigious university award for academic excellence.

Christopher was presented with his award by UCD President Andrew Deeks, at O’Reilly hall this March.

Pictured below with parents Tim and Martina. 

The University Scholarship Award was for the highest GPA attained in Stage 3 Medicine. Benefits include bursary, recognition certificate and achievement recorded on academic transcript.

Presenting the award, in his last official role at the University, Professor Deeks said “As winners you are the standard bearers of excellence, the highflyers of our student community. You have distinguished yourselves by your performance and outstanding achievements.”

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A past pupil of Mountrath Community School, Chris is a previous recipient of this award as well as the Catholic University Award Medal and the Molloy Chemistry Medal. He is already an Adastra scholar at the university.

Earlier this year he was selected to represent UCD at the prestigious Dr HH Stewart Medical Awards in three categories- Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.

Christopher is also a competitive swimmer and swims for UCD.

Donate to Freezebury here.