One man plans to swim on every Irish beach to raise funds for a mental-health charity. Irish Central reported.
Paddy Conaghan, 80, of County Donegal says he hasn’t swam in over 60 years but that isn’t going to stop him from taking a dip in the name of charity, according to Donegal Live.
He began the project in early December. Sky News reported.
“I can’t climb mountains anymore,” he told Sky. “I can’t run anymore, I can’t cycle anymore, like I used to do. But I can do a bit of swimming and diving.”
He then packs his own bag and heads to the next beach. Sky reported that he has eaten steak and eggs in the van and will then have a few pints in a local pub. After that, he will go to bed in his vehicle.
He said he wanted to do the swimming in the winter because “you’re not going to get any money if you’re enjoying yourself, are you?”
Conaghan has been training for 10 months by taking ice baths, Sky reported.
He is raising money via GoFundMe for Gemma’s Legacy of Hope, a mental health counseling service in his native County Donegal.
Originally he planned on raising just over 1,000 Euros but he has now taken in almost 50,000 Euros, according to his GoFundMe page.
He intends to continue his fundraiser from January until he turns 81.