Couple to swim 100km for four local charities

Colm and Melissa Maguire, who are originally from Glasgow and Derry respectively, but now live in Fahan, are taking on the epic challenge of swimming a few kilometres every day throughout the month to reach their target.

They are raising money for Foyle Search and Rescue, RNLI Lough Swilly, Foyle Hospice and Donegal Hospice and in just over a week have already raised over £800.

Colm told the ‘Journal’ he and Melissa are both keen swimmers, but usually prefer to be in a pool.

They decided to swim in open water ‘to try and get over’ their fear of dark water, something which Colm jokes was brought on by the film ‘Jaws’.

“Raising funds for four brilliant charities just gives us the extra impetus to go out and do it. Melissa bravely volunteered us for an open water swim in 2016 and we ended up doing a couple of them that year.

“We wanted to challenge ourselves and overcome this open water thing that we have. We just get in and go,” Colm said. “Every now and then you have a moment of panic at all this dark water below you, but you just take a deep breath and get on with it.”

The couple have been swimming in Lough Swilly, but once travel restrictions are lifted they intend to travel to other areas to swim.

“Donegal has the advantage of nice swimming points, we will be doing Leenan Bay and Tullagh Bay and going around different areas of the coast.”

The couple had initially set out to raise £200, but had smashed that earlier this week. To donate visit: paypal.me/BigLoveRocks