Swimmers shiver during Sandycove sea challenge

OVER 200 brave fundraisers from Dublin and beyond embraced the December chill last week and plunged into the sea as they raised vital funds for local Special Olympics athletes. 

The freezing fundraiser at Sandycove challenged the public to ‘get freezin’ for a reason’ in support of athletes with an intellectual disability.

Participants and supporters were joined at the event by local athletes, who were on hand to meet, greet and chat about their experiences in the Special Olympics programme.

Funds raised by this year’s Polar Plunge will go towards the continuation of the Special Olympics programme, which currently sees more than 1,700 athletes training on a weekly basis in Special Olympics clubs across the Eastern Region. 

This year 31 of them will  join a 91-strong Team Ireland squad to travel to the Special Olympics World Games in March, the highest level of sporting competition for Special Olympics athletes.