Christmas Day Charity Swim in memory of Danny Crowley
to raise funds for The Mercy Kids and Teens Appeal

On Christmas Day, a group of students from Carrigaline Community School, along with their families and friends, will take to the water at Myrtleville Beach in memory of their friend, Danny Crowley, who passed away after a long battle with Leukaemia in November 2013. Funds raised through the Christmas Day Swim will go to the Mercy Hospital Foundation’s Kids and Teens Appeal.

Danny’s friends organised the first Carrigaline Christmas Day Charity Swim in his memory in December 2013, when 40 swimmers braved the chilly waters. In 2014, 73 people took part, and organisers are hoping that this year’s swim will be their biggest yet. The 2013 and 2014 swims raised a tremendous €11,000 for the Mercy Hospital Foundation.

As well as the annual Christmas Day Swims, 190 students from Carrigaline Community School took part in a Fun Walk in April 2014, raising €5,385 in Danny’s memory for the Mercy Kids and Teens Appeal, and for which the group picked up a Mercy Stars Award in 2014. The Mercy Kids and 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. Many children are affected by the death of a parent or sibling and require Bereavement Counselling and other support services. For many other children and young people with long term illnesses their education can be affected and the Mercy Hospital Foundation provides support through the hospital Social Work Department to enable many of these children to continue their education following their illness.

Deirdre Finn, Community & Events Fundraiser, the Mercy Hospital Foundation said “Our mission is to support the Hospital in delivering the highest quality of patient care by raising funds to support advancements and innovation in the treatment and care of patients at the Mercy 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 and friends.”