There is still time to sign up for “Swim Where You Are” (21-30 December), COPE Galway’s reimagined Christmas Swim to comply with pandemic restrictions.
The charity is appealing to people connected to Galway at home and abroad to register online at www.copegalway.ie/swim, receive a t-shirt by post, follow the safety information and swim wherever you are this Christmas on your chosen day between 21-30 December.
The funds raised directly support COPE Galway’s services for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic abuse and older people at risk of social and nutritional isolation in Galway.
To avoid crowds and for best social distancing practice, there will not be a Christmas Day event at Blackrock in Salthill this year, breaking a three-decade tradition. We can’t be all together in Salthill on Christmas morning, handing out warm cups of tea to the brave souls who swim in the cold water. However, taking part in “Swim Where You Are” means you can continue your Christmas Swim tradition wherever you are, creating memories and raising funds – while staying connected to Galway this Christmas.
To register and for further information please visit www.copegalway.ie/swim
Share and tag @copegalway on social media and use hashtags #IBravedtheCold, #SwimWhereYouAre and #COPEChristmasSwim.
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Andy Friend, Connacht Rugby Head Coach, has signed up to take part in “Swim Where You Are” (Dec 21-30), COPE Galway’s reimagined Christmas Swim Event for 2020. “As Christmas draws closer,” said Andy, “the traditional Salthill ‘dip’ will sadly be missing due to Covid restrictions. As an alternative, I encourage people to brave the cold and #SwimWhereYouAre to continue to support this great charity. Enjoy the dip!” There’s still time to register on www.copegalway.ie/swim and receive your t-shirt. You can swim any day, wherever you are, between 21-30 December to avoid crowds and follow water safety advice and COVID-19 guidelines. You’ll raise funds to support older people in our community and for people experiencing homelessness and domestic abuse in Galway.
Contact Lynia O’Brien. Phone – 086 859 7898, 091 778 750. Email – lobrien@copegalway.ie
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COPE Galway Background Information
COPE Galway is a local Galway organisation whose vision is for a community where every person is valued, cared for and supported at every stage of life. COPE Galway understands, respects and responds to the needs of people who struggle with the challenges of homelessness and domestic abuse and supports older people towards healthy and active ageing.
In 2019, COPE Galway worked with 2,984 vulnerable people in Galway. This included 1,189 adults and 433 children affected by homelessness, (187 families and 868 single people). They also worked with 638 individual women and their children who were experiencing Domestic Abuse, produced and delivered 61,016 meals to older clients and to their services around Galway and worked with 724 older people at risk of isolation. The organisation also supported 2,938 individuals with food from the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) Programme and distributed over 700 school kits.
COPE Galway’s new strategy for 2020-2025 focuses the organisation on its mission: Making a difference by empowering people, creating change and strengthening communities. COPE Galway places its values – rights, respect, hope, community, safety and professionalism – at the heart of its work in the community.