Mermaids aim to turn the tide for good causes
A MERMAID from Co. Laois is hoping to make a sea change for several lucky charities when she braves the Bristol Channel later this month.
Joan Fennelly, 55, from Mountmellick, will join four other swimmers in a relay across the channel at its widest point – a distance of over 40km – from Ilfracombe, North Devon to Swansea.
The chosen route has only ever been attempted by four individuals and one relay team since 1927 and is being attempted in support of a variety of charities on July 22.
With little more than four or five years’ swimming experience behind them, the team, known as the Henley Mermaids, will take on the cold-water challenge without wetsuits.
‘Although we have tried to keep our cold-water acclimatisation up through regular swims in the Thames throughout winter, because of the cold, these could only be undertaken over short distances,’ said spokeswoman Ms Fennelly.
The Henley Mermaids are made up of UK, Irish and Australian nationals and they hope to raise €46,000 for several charities – in Ireland and the UK – supporting neurological conditions ranging from Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
‘None of us are what you would regard as particularly fast or technically accomplished swimmers,’ Ms Fennelly said.
‘However, we have a passion for open water swimming, overcoming a challenge and a strong belief in contributing back to society and those less fortunate than ourselves.’
Mary Casserly, chairperson of Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease Ireland, is in awe of the Henley Mermaids and their endeavours.
‘They’re fantastic women really. It’s huge what they are doing,’ she said.
The Henley Mermaids are Joan Fennelly, Susan Barry, Fiona Print, Laura Reineke and Jo Robb.
Whether you are in Ireland, or the UK, donations can be made via https://www. henleymermaids.com/