Chose to swim when it suits you and your friends to support Cork’s youngest cancer patients.
For the last 9 years, the friends and family of Carrigaline teenager Danny Crowley have braved the cold waters for the annual Danny Crowley Christmas Swim. Last year the swim was 100% virtual over the Christmas Holidays, prior to that, friends gathered on Myrtleville Beach every Christmas morning.
This year the choice is yours, do what works for you! Enjoy a dip near or far when it suits you and your friends or join a smaller crew on Myrtleville beach at 10.30 Christmas morning.
When Danny passed away after a long battle with Leukaemia in 2013, his friends and family set up the Danny Crowley Christmas Swim.
This was their way to remember him and at the same time raise funds for the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal. Since then, they have been joined by more people every year wanting to kick off their Christmas morning by taking a dip in the sea and supporting the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal. They have raised a phenomenal €130,000 since 2013 to support the youngest patients at the Mercy University Hospital.
Last year over 600 people from near and far took place in the virtual swim. Prior to that over 400 people braved the elements on Christmas morning. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organising committee are calling on people to take a dip in the water anytime, anywhere, during Christmas week. The virtual swim is easier than ever to get involved in as participants can pick a time and place that suits them over Christmas. The option of the physical swim still exists on Christmas morning assuming Government restrictions still allow. The choice is yours. Fundraising pages can be set up online at www.idonate.ie/DannyCrowleyXmasSwim for family and friends to support. This link can also be used by anyone who wants to make a one-off donation.
Danny’s mom, Majella, is extremely proud of how much the swim has raised since 2013. Speaking about the difference these funds can make, Majella said “the Mercy Paediatric Outreach Oncology Nursing Service (POONS) and the entire team in the Children’s Leukaemia unit provided invaluable support to Daniel and our family when Daniel was undergoing his treatment. They went the extra mile and we all appreciated the huge difference it made. We want to ensure other families can continue to avail of this service.”
All funds raised will go towards the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal which supports the youngest patients at the Mercy Hospital by providing services such as the Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service (POONS). This service allows children with cancer to receive their treatment in the comfort of their own home. The service is even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic and is helping to keep these young patients safe.
Those who have taken part in the past are being asked to re-use their Mercy Foundation t-shirts this year. New t-shirts can also be collected from Mano Mano Barbers, Main Street, Carrigaline or by messaging the Instagram page @thedannycrowleyswim. To show your support and to get involved visit www.idonate.ie/DannyCrowleyXmasSwim.
Be sure to also check out @thedannycrowleyswim on Instagram, ‘The Danny Crowley Memorial Christmas Swim’ on Facebook or @DannyXmasSwim on Twitter to see those braving the elements the week before Christmas and send in any pictures or videos of you taking part.
For more information on the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal visits www.mercyhospitalfoundation.ie.