Swimmers wanted to make a big splash for Rape Crisis North East

Carlingford……29^th July……Pier to Pier Swim……Sat 9am……

Rape Crisis North East are expanding their outreach service in Drogheda and are fundraising to purchase a new building with enough space to expand their service in Dundalk.

To raise funds they have organised a pier to pier swim in Carlingford on 29^th July 2023, in aid of Rape Crisis North East. The swim will happen at 9.00 am to coincide with full tide and will be co-ordinated by Harry Jordan of Carlingford Swimmers.

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

Rape Crisis North East are hoping to make a big splash with lots of swimmers taking to the water to raise awareness of their service and to generate funds for a deposit on a new building to expand their HQ and service in Dundalk.

The swim will be from St. John’s Pier to the South Pier in Carlingford. A hot house mobile sauna will be on hand to raise the temperature should the waters prove chilly.

There will be a commemorative medal for each participant. There is an entry fee of €5 and a Go Fund Me page has been set up for entrants and anyone else who wishes to donate: https://gofund.me/84fff562

To reassure potential participants, the swim will be approx. 150 metres and will take ten to fifteen minutes. 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.

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.

They are currently fundraising to purchase a new building with enough space to expand their service and base in Dundalk.

“Our waiting list is unacceptable and it is imperative that we find a premises suitable for our needs” said Grace McArdle, Manager of Rape Crisis North East. “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 Further Information see Facebook or Contact Jennifer on 042 9339491 or email: office@rcne.ie