20 November 2017
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Sign up for the Carrigaline Christmas Day Charity Swim at the Danny Crowley Remembrance Tree from December 1st – 3rd
From Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd December, people are invited to visit the Danny Crowley Remembrance Tree in Barry Collins’ Supervalu, Carrigaline, where they can get sponsorship cards for the annual Carrigaline Christmas Day Charity Swim in aid of The Mercy Kids + Teens Appeal.
Since 2013, over €41,500 has been raised for Kids + Teens Appeal by friends and family of Carrigaline teenager, Danny Crowley, who sadly passed away after a long battle with Leukaemia in November 2013. This dedicated group raised this phenomenal amount through their annual Carrigaline Christmas Day Swim, as well as a Fun Walk in April 2014.
The first Christmas Day Charity Swim was organised by his friends from Carrigaline Community School in December 2013 and it saw 40 swimmers take the plunge. In 2014, 73 people took part, and 2015 saw 146 people take the plunge, while last year’s swim was the biggest to date with almost 250 brave swimmers.
This Christmas Day, a group of students from Carrigaline Community School, along with their families and friends will once again meet at 10.30am at Myrtleville Beach and take to the water in memory of their friend, Danny. Anyone interested in taking part can get sponsorship cards at the special Remembrance Tree ahead of the swim. Cards are also available from Mano Mano Barber Shop, Main Street, Carrigaline from Jennifer Kelleher or any member of the Crowley family. For those not brave enough to chance the water on Christmas Day, donations can be made in the collection buckets at the Remembrance Tree and in Mano Mano.
Deborah Lonergan, member of the organising committee says “The Danny Crowley Remembrance Tree is a new element to our fundraising campaign this year, and it’s a lovely way for people to come along and share their memories of Danny, and indeed remember other loved ones lost. We want this year’s Christmas Day Swim to be our biggest and best yet, and we’re inviting people to show their support in whatever way they can. If you can’t make it along to the Remembrance Tree from December 1st to 3rd, you can support our campaign by dropping what you can into the collection buckets we have in Mano Mano or coming along to Myrtleville Beach on Christmas Day.”
The Mercy Kids + Teens Appeal aims to raise funds to benefit crucial areas of The Mercy’s paediatric services including bereavement counselling, support for children, and support for education. Funds raised through the swim will also go to the Mercy Hospital Children’s Leukaemia unit, where Danny spent a significant amount of time when having treatment in 2013.
Deirdre Finn, Community & Events Fundraiser, the Mercy Hospital Foundation said “Our mission is to inspire people to support advancements in research, diagnosis, treatments and care of patients at The Mercy University Hospital, the People’s Hospital. We promise to do our very best to provide you with a world class hospital, right on your doorstep, and this is only possible through the help of our supporters and donors like the students from Carrigaline Community School, along with their teachers, families, friends and the local community, who continue to honour Danny’s memory in this very special way.”
For sponsorship cards or to make a donation to the Carrigaline Christmas Day Charity Swim, visit the Danny Crowley Remembrance Tree from December 1st to 3rd in Barry Collins’ Supervalu, Carrigaline, call into Mano Mano Barbers, Main Street, Carrigaline, or call Deborah on (086) 3739135.
For more information on The Mercy Kids + Teens Appeal visit ww.mercyfundraising.ie
