Blackwater S&R challenge continues
Nearly one month since the Blackwater Search and Recovery Unit launched its Blackwater 169 Challenge, the support has been phenomenal. From the off the unit has received great support from so many outside the club itself.
We have to firstly thank Blackwater Triathlon Club who were onboard straight away with their members undertaking to swim 169 kilometres and raising sponsorship and donations for the Blackwater Search and Recovery Unit. While a lot of the members would be outside the 5km limit, the club continues to clock up the distance.
While at the other end of the county local swimmers in Youghal with club diver Billy Carr are close to the beach to complete their 169 open water swim. At the time of writing team Billy Carr, Ian Murphy, Barry Harrington, Stephanie Whyte, Ted Kelly, Tom McCaul, Toni McCaul, Maggie O’Mahony, Isabella Chidlow, Ryan Ates and Billy completed 139.2 kilometers in water temperatures that varied from 8 degrees to 11 degrees.
BIRTHDAY CHARITY
Outside of completing any distance or activity incorporating 169 we have to acknowledge Gillian Condon who had approached the unit and offered to select Blackwater Search and Recovery Unit as her birthday charity. Gillian is promoting this on her own social media and with family and friends, directing theme to the causes fundraising page of iDonate. iDonate is a fundraising platform that the club is using for this overall fundraiser and anyone can sign up to fundraise for the Blackwater SAR. On behalf of the Unit we would like to wish Gillian a very happy birthday and thank her very much for the support shown.
One doesn’t have to swim to partake in the challenge. Club member Kenneth Barry who is a non-diver has set himself the challenge of walking 169km and at the time of writing Ken has complete 149km and is hoping to complete the 169 within the week and within forty days from starting the challenge.
Club divers are getting to the water as much as possible and hopefully very soon when there is an ease in the travel restrictions, more will be able to take to the water and clock up those kilometres. Not all members are lucky to live in close proximity to good water for swimming but those that are, are getting the distance so far with 72 kilometres.
On Easter Sunday before the lamb roast and chocolate eggs, club divers Maurice Carroll, Noel Hayes and Mike Reidy covered 4km each on the river. On returning to the slip by the rowing club at the end of the swim, Mike Reidy recovered one of the street bollards that are on the new promenade walk after seeing it in the river. It wasn’t that the bollard wanted to go for a swim, but some person felt it should be thrown into the river. These bollards are in place to protect the pedestrians on the walk, well done Mike on a good find.
If you would like to find out more about the Blackwater 169 Challenge, please feel free in contacting Ken on 086-1018424 (evenings) or visit the club’s Facebook page Blackwater Sub Aqua Club or if you would like to donate visit https://www. idonate. ie/event/2747_blackwater-169-challenge.html