Lough Lene hosts inaugural Swim in Pink
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The swim took place on Sunday, October 12Image 2 of 8
Included in the 23 swimmers on the day were: Anne Earle, Ann Dermody, Champayne Chamberlayne, Liz Cooper, Tessa Quartermaine, Caroline Pilkington, Rose Shearer and Ruth Dunlop.Image 3 of 8
Clarissa De La Mere and Jen Gallagher.Image 4 of 8
Caroline Pilkington and Jen Gallagher.Image 5 of 8
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The Lough Lene gathering was organised by Caroline PilkingtonImage 7 of 8
Blessed among women Christopher Kelly.Image 8 of 8
Bringing colour to the day: Helen Coyle and Ruth Sweeney.‘Swim in Pink’ celebrated their fifth anniversary this year and the charity event launched at a new location where swimmers took the plunge for charity.
Last year swimmers gathered at the diving board at Portnashangan for Mullingar’s first Swim In Pink, this year Lough Lene saw swimmers to show support for a worthy charity. The swim took place on Sunday October 12, and it was just one of many swims that happened nationwide.
The popular fundraising event was organised by the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) in association with Blackrock Beachwear; it has been an incredible success since its beginning in 2020.
The Lough Lene gathering was organised by Caroline Pilkington: “Having just had a new breast cancer diagnosis, I thought I had better support the Irish breast cancer research with this Swim in Pink. So I organised a swim in Lough Lene,” she said on her fundraising page.
The swim is part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourages participants across the country to dip, swim, or splash in support of breast cancer research. It has won many awards and the 5,000-plus swimmers who have taken part have raised €500,000 for life-saving research.
One of Caroline’s friends, Jen Gallagher, joined in the swim and also has a fundraising page: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Ireland, with one in seven women expected to develop the disease and over 3,587 new cases diagnosed annually,” she said of the need for the charity event.
Jen said Caroline has been an inspiration to all with her approach to receiving the diagnosis: “Caroline received a breast cancer diagnosis a number of years ago. She went through treatment and came out the other side. She has always had a positive attitude.
“Even with her most recent diagnosis, she has been a warrior. Even with everything going on in her life, she is organised this swim to support the NBCRI.”
Caroline was delighted with the support she received on the day and since: “The Lough Lene Lovvies, along with friends and supporters, took part in our dip on Sunday October 12, The 22 ladies and one brave man who took part in the swim raised over €6,000, way beyond any expectations. I was delighted with it.”
All the money raised will go to the Breast Cancer Research Unit: “I know the value of that unit,” Caroline said, “I was first diagnosed 25 years ago. This is my second diagnosis. They improvement in the last two and a half decades is immense and a lot of that is down to the support for cancer research.”
Caroline thanked all who helped on the day: “We had fabulous supporters who brought Irish coffee, hot chocolate, sausage rolls, hot sausages and delicious scones made and served by Ruth Sweeney. So after the swim there was a wonderful party atmosphere.”
Researchers funded by the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, which is based at the Lambe Institute, University of Galway, are leading major national and international projects aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
You can still support the charity:
Caroline’s Swim in Pink Fundraiser is: www.swiminpink.ie/fundraiser/carolinepilkington
Jen’s is: