Dungiven woman makes a splash for charity with coastal challenge

Gráinne McMacken is donning her wetsuit for the Hope Foundation, swimming off each of Ireland’s coastal counties over the coming weeks.

The Co Derry woman would love to see some supporters of ‘Trip to Dip’ on the beach or, better yet, in the water with her.

When it came to coming up with a way to help people, the idea of a swim was an obvious choice for Gráinne, a water enthusiast.

“Trip to Dip will give me an opportunity to challenge myself both physically and mentally. Getting into cold water in the rain, wind and sun can be challenging in itself, not to mention the added excitement of encountering some of our marine life and coping with variable sea conditions. This will be an opportunity to connect with people in the different areas I visit, letting them know about HOPE and the work they do,” said Gráinne. This week Gráinne will be swimming off five counties on consecutive days. She starts in Cork on Thursday, July 7 and will make her way up through Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

Grainne will finish in Innishowen, Donegal, and Benone in Magilligan on July 30 and 31.

Later this year Grainne will be travelling to Kolkata (Calcutta) in India to volunteer with HOPE on their Health Programme.

Having visited India twice already, Grainne said: “It is a huge country full of diverse cultures and customs, a country with an amazing history. There is so much beauty, yet it is mixed with great deprivation.

“I’m going again now, at a time in my life when I feel I have useful skills to offer and can help some of the vulnerable children. My background is in promoting good nutrition within communities. I’m keen to learn about nutritional issues within the projects The Hope Foundation runs and to share my own skills which might help even in some small way”.

Local company, Connect Mobile Solutions Limited are supporting Grainne’s efforts.

The Hope Foundation is an Irish charity, set up 16 years ago by Cork woman Maureen Forrest to help the vulnerable children from the streets and slums of Kolkata. HOPE now has over 60 projects in Kolkata, offering protection, access to education, providing healthcare, training and a range of other services. HOPE restore childhoods and provides positive futures. To support Gráinne see her Facebook page www.facebook.com/Triptodip/ Follow her on Twitter @g_mcmacken To donate see give.everydayhero.com/ie/grainne-s-hope#