Achill man to swim for charity

Achill man to swim for charity


Anton McNulty

AN ACHILL man who was diagnosed with cancer last year hopes to swim from Keel Island, just off the Achill coast to Purteen Harbour on Achill Island and raise over €13,000 for Cancer Care West.
Ronan Gibbon (41) from Pollagh on Achill Island had hoped to undertake the swim last year and raise money for the same charity but had to cancel the event after he was diagnosed with cancer himself and had to undergo treatment.
However, after undergoing his treatment he now hopes that the swim will take place this Sunday, August 16, at 2pm. To date he has already raised €13,000 in aid of the charity through sponsorship cards and hopes to raise more money with collection buckets available on the day at Purteen for people to donate.
This will be Ronan’s third charity swim from Keel Island to Purteen, the first of which he swam 22 years ago and raised £1,000 for St Colman’s Daycare Centre. Seven years ago he raised €9,000 which was divided equalled between the Cancer Support Association at Rock Rose House in Castlebar and the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation, Croí.
Terence Dever, CEO of Comhlacht Forbartha Aitiuil Acla, said this was a difficult challenge for a very worthy cause and asked people to lend their support to Ronan and hoped all would go well on the day.
If the weather goes in everyones favour and the swim goes ahead on Sunday, the presentation of the cheque to Cancer Care West is expected to take place at a function on the following Saturday evening.