Taking the Plunge for Rehab
4 Teams, 4 Celebrity Mentors, A 24-hour Swim, 1 Winner!
27 April 2011: To launch a series of swimathons taking place nationwide as part of 1 Day for Rehab (Friday June 17th), four celebrities and their teams of volunteers are getting set to dive in in an epic 24-hour swimming challenge. The event will take place at the National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown on Friday May 6th from 10am and all are welcome.
The team that completes the most kilometres within the 24-hour period will be deemed the winner, so the pressure is on! The contest aims to encourage people to start thinking about getting involved in a sponsored swimathon of their own in their local leisure centre by swimming 1K for Rehab either as an individual or as part of a team any time throughout May, June and July.
All are welcome to come along and support the four teams – representing Dublin Fire Brigade, the Dublin Institute of Technology, Royal Sun Alliance and Dublin City University Sport – being mentored by Sean Gallagher from Dragon’s Den, TV presenter Nuala Carey, actress Rachel Sarah Murphy from RTÉ’s Fair City, and 98FM’s Teena Gates.
Rachel Sarah Murphy, mentor to the team from the Dublin Fire Brigade, comments, “Over the past few weeks, each member of the team has been doing lots of training to make sure that they are in tip-top shape for the challenge. Not of course that these guys aren’t fit. They take their jobs extremely seriously as they do the need to support Rehab’s services. Knowing that these guys think nothing of a swim in the Liffey – one has even swam the English Channel – I would be quietly confident about our chances of success!”
Pauline Crowley, Rehab’s Head of Fundraising, says “This is our second annual 1 Day for Rehab national fundraising appeal and we wanted to have an activity that would interest all sectors of the community. We’re delighted to be launching the appeal at the National Aquatic Centre and hope that our celebrity teams will encourage others to do their own swim.
“There will be lots of activity happening during the day at the centre, including free face painting for children, so we would encourage people to come along and cheer on the teams. You can also go online and sponsor your favourite team at www.mycharity.ie/event/24hourswim
Over 70 leisure centres and pools nationwide have agreed to waive their fees for those who wish to undertake their own sponsored swim, so there really is every incentive to take part. Coral Leisure is the main sponsor for the 1km swimathon and will be hosting a number of key events on June 17th”
Funds raised from activities in communities on 1 Day for Rehab go directly back to develop local services. 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.
Every year, Rehab supports some 8,000 people in Ireland in 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 further details on how to sign up for a sponsored swim and details of participating leisure centres and pools, log on today to www.1dayforwww.rehab.ie and register for a free fundraising pack.
Ends
For further information, please contact: Kerry Houlihan, Rehab fundraising team, 01 2100 510