Louth swimmers urged to splash out for Rape Crisis North East

Swimmers are being urged to take part in the 'Splash Out' in Carlingford to raise funds for the Rape Crisis North East.

People are being invited to join the swim from St. John’s Pier to the South Pier in Carlingford on Saturday July 29th in aid of the Rape Crisis North East (RCNE).

The swim, co-ordinated by Harry Jordan of Carlingford Swimmers, will start at 9am to coincide with full tide and will be approximately 150 metres taking 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

And Hot House Sauna, a mobile sauna, will be on hand to raise the temperature should the waters prove chilly for some.

Leading this swim will be four members of the Grainne Ni Mhaille relay team who swam from Templetown Beach in Co. Louth to Rockall Light in Skerries, a distance of 44 klms.

“We are hoping to make a big splash with loads of swimmers taking to the water to raise awareness of our service and to generate funds for a deposit to buy a new building and expand our HQ and service in Dundalk”, said Jennifer Norton of RCNE.

There will be a commemorative medal for each participant and a Go Fund Me page has been set up for anyone who wishes to donate https://gofund.me/84fff562

Swimmers will be counted in the water at St. John’s Pier and counted out of the water at the South Pier.

There will be health and safety boats on hand and flotation devices are recommended as backup for inexperienced swimmers.

Harry Jordan was approached to ask for advice in running a charity swim for Rape Crisis North East Clg and within a few days he had formed a Committee of Jenn Fitzgerald, Fiona O’Neill, Aisling Burke and Deirdre Jordan.

Harry is passionate about open water swimming and formed the Carlingford Swimmers six years ago, he himself has been swimming about half a million metres in the sea each year and swears by the benefits.

The team in Rape Crisis North East Clg said they are so grateful for the trojan work done by everyone on this Committee to make our fundraiser a success.

Rape Crisis North East provides a specialised counselling, advocacy and support service to all survivors of rape and sexual abuse in the North East of Ireland including Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan and surrounding areas.

Grace McArdle, Manager of Rape Crisis North East.said: “We are currently fundraising to purchase a new building with enough space to expand our service and base in Dundalk.

“Our waiting list is unacceptable and it is imperative that we find a premises suitable for our needs. “We need a young person’s room designed to ease the process of disclosure and enough counselling rooms to expand.

“We are currently expanding our outreach in Drogheda in collaboration with Drogheda Women and Children’s Refuge Centre Clg and setting up a new service in Co. Meath in collaboration with Meath Women’s Aid Refuge and Support Service along with our existing outreach in Castleblayney.

“We are so looking forward to this event. “It will be an amazing way to start a Saturday in July and hopefully we will see lots of swimmers making a big splash for our service”

For more information or to register to take part email office@rcne and follow the RCNE on their social media platforms for updated information.