‘Absolutely amazing’ aunt in English channel bid

A COURAGEOUS grand-aunt is to brave the bitter cold waters of the English Channel in July as she attempts to raise funds for Build4life.

Born and raised in Dublin as the seventh of 14 children, Maura Twomey will be 59 when she takes on this gruelling challenge between July 9 and 13 to raise vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis children’s isolation unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

It’s a cause close to her heart as her grandnephew Rian Forde, from Blarney, suffers from the condition.

Rian (4) attends CUH which is why he and his family know first-hand what a difference the improved services can make.

The money raised by Maura will go directly towards inpatient beds for children with Cystic Fibrosis in CUH which is attended by over 25 per cent of Ireland’s Cystic Fibrosis population.

A former national school teacher in Donaghmede and Fettercairn, Maura had earlier moved to Cork where she finished secondary school in Blarney.

Maura will travel back from the USA where she now lives to take part in this incredible journey much to the delight of her niece Christine, mother of Rian.

“Rian is our pride and joy,

? said Christine.

“He is such a fun and happy little boy who takes on the challenges of Cystic Fibrosis every day.

“He is an absolute trooper and keeps us all smiling day in and day out. We attend the children’s unit in CUH on a regular basis and they treat us extremely well, however, they are in need of improved facilities and services.

“It’s up to us all who are affected by Cystic Fibrosis to pull together and fundraise for the cause. For my auntie Maura to take on swimming the English Channel to help raise awareness and funds for kids just like Rian is absolutely amazing and we can’t thank her enough.

“We are incredibly proud and are really looking forward to cheering her on for the incredible and inspirational endeavour she’s undertaking.

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Maura has been drawn to swimming all of her life. The idea to swim the channel was driven from a young age by tales of other channel challanges.

Having watched Rian live with Cystic Fibrosis, she is willing to take on a challenge of her own to help raise money and awareness for CF.

Maura explained:

“Rian and his immediate family face the challenge of Cystic Fibrosis every single day so I am well able to take on this once-off challenge.

“I have been training for the last 24 months and feel I am more than up for the swim in July.

“The training has been tough and time-consuming but fun too. No doubt swimming the English Channel will be extremely difficult but I am looking forward to completing the task and, more importantly, raising a significant amount of money on both sides of the Atlantic for the Cystic Fibrosis Children’s Unit in CUH.

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Build4Life, the only charity funding the Cystic Fibrosis facilities in CUH is supporting Maura all the way on her journey.

Build4Life is a volunteer parent-run charity that raises money for improved facilities for children with Cystic Fibrosis.

For more information on Build4Life see build4life.net

To support Maura and donate, visit her website: www.mauraschannelswim.wordpress.com or www.mycharity.ie/event/maurasenglishchannelswim