Celebrities Dive In to Support Launch of 1 Day for Rehab with 24-Hour Competitive Swim
Friday 6th May 2011: ‘Dragon’ Seán Gallagher, Fair City’s Rachel Sarah Murphy, RTÉ presenter Nuala Carey and Dublin’s 98FM newsreader Teena Gates today joined a host of swimming enthusiasts for Rehab’s 24-hour competitive swim at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.
The swim kick-starts the countdown to 1 Day for Rehab, which takes place on Friday June 17. A key activity this year will be 1K Swims, supported by Coral Leisure, which are taking place in communities across Ireland in aid of local Rehab projects.
The celebrities have been advising, supporting and mentoring teams from Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin City University, Royal Sun Alliance and the Dublin Institute of Technology and are even planning to take the plunge themselves. The mammoth swimming endeavour to see who will swim the most kilometres in 24 hours began at 10am today – members of the public can sponsor the participants at www.mycharity.ie/event/24hourswim
The courageous swimmers are taking part in the challenge to encourage people around the country to do a 1K Swim for Rehab. Over 70 leisure centres and pools nationwide have agreed to waive their fees for those who wish to undertake a sponsored swim, so there really is every incentive to take part. Coral Leisure will also be hosting a number of key regional swimathons on June 17 in Killarney, Monaghan and Courtown.
“My team from Royal Sun Alliance is a very dedicated group of people,” says Seán Gallagher, entrepreneur and RTÉ Dragon. “They have been training hard in advance of today and are determined to raise as much money as they can and to highlight the incredible work being carried out in communities around the country by Rehab. We really want to encourage everyone to put Friday June 17 in their diary to support 1 Day for Rehab. It’s not a big ask, you simply have to swim 1K or, if that isn’t your thing, why not have a sponsored cycle or parachute jump or host a coffee morning or treasure hunt… anything you want – you’re guaranteed to have lots of fun and you’ll be supporting local Rehab services too.”
Pauline Crowley, Rehab’s Head of Fundraising, says that funds raised locally on 1 Day for Rehab go directly back to develop services in those communities. “This can vary according to local need, for example, it could be to fund the purchase of educational aids, assistive technologies and music equipment, or provide for relaxation rooms, sensory gardens, leisure and horticulture facilities, or support the refurbishment of service buildings.”
This year, Rehab has also introduced a 1 Day pin, which will be on sale for €2 and volunteers are being sought to sell them. Separately, Eurospar – which has nominated Rehab as its Charity of the Year – will be selling 1 Day for Rehab Irish-made chocolate lollipops through its network of 56 supermarkets countrywide.
Every year, Rehab supports some 8,000 people with disabilities and others who are marginalised in Ireland. It does this by enabling them to realise their dreams, learn skills, access job opportunities and live more independent lives, through its resource and training centres, residential and supported accommodation services and in respite care, outreach and home-based services.
For a 1 Day for Rehab fundraising pack, which includes all the tips needed to get an event up and running, contact the fundraising team on 01 210 0520. For fundraising ideas and regular updates on all of the activities taking place in local areas, as well as details of the participating leisure centres and pools taking part in the 1K Swim, log onto www.1dayforwww.rehab.ie