Swimming 7,000 kms for Pieta House

Some 175 swimmers took part in the recent Channel Swim Challenge organised at Athlone Regional Sports Centre (RSC), where they were challenged to swim the length of the Channel – Dover to Calais, a distance of 32km, or 64km return trip.

And many did complete the round trip, with several intrepid swimmers pushing on to swim over 100km, three crossings, or even 200km, six crossings.

The initiative was organised by the ‘Swim for Life’ team at the RSC to provide an opportunity for active swimmers to target a specific goal, with expert tuition, lane coaching and support provided along the way.
“The Channel is the Everest of swimming, and many of our swimmers have successfully completed the ascent a few times over now!' said the Centre’s Swim Co-ordinator Charlie Naughton.
Many participants raised funds through sponsorship of their swims, which took on average 10 weeks to complete, since the Challenge launch in November 7 last year. Swimming an average of 200+ lengths a week, every week over 10 weeks, the Challengers succeeded in raising over €9,000 for Pieta House, between individual fundraising and a contribution from the centre itself.
“Swimming can have a massive impact on well-being,” said Mr Naughton. 'We would point to its benefits for cardio fitness, strength and flexibility but also its positive impact on mental health. As such we are delighted to spearhead the development of swimming in the region, and to support the expansion of the hugely important service Pieta House offers.'
As a group, the Challengers covered the distance from Ireland across the Atlantic to Caracas Venezuela – an achievement marked at the Challenge finale in the Athlone RSC on Sunday night, complete with tricolours and a wine & cheese reception wishing the participants ‘bien venu to Calais’!
The 32km stretch between Dover and Calais has only actually ever been completed by 1,400 solo swimmers. While many more have swam equivalent distance in other locales, this Challenge was the first to offer Athlone, and Westmeath swimmers the chance to scale this, the Everest of swimming.
Athlone RSC’s experienced swim team includes David Warby, who has coached many long distance swimmers. Clodagh Murray, who launched the Challenge for the Centre, is one of David’s students, and she completed her record-breaking Channel swim in August 2016.

*See this week's paper, out tomorrow, Wednesday, for photographs from this event.