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To celebrate 35 years of care at Evora Hospice Care (formerly Southern Area Hospice Services) a number of staff members and friends decided back in 2024 to take on the chilling challenge of completing 365 cold water dips to help raise money for Hospice services.
Starting on the 14th September 2024, those taking part are now coming up to their final month of the challenge. Newry.ie caught up with them swimming in Camlough Lake last week, just one of the venues used for their dips. When asked why they are taking on this particular challenge, Jacqueline O’Rourke Community Nurse said “We are a group of Hospice staff, family and friends who enjoy cold water swimming and the benefits that come along with it, we wanted to combine our craziness with supporting our incredible Hospice in which we are all privileged to work. We are doing this for everyone who has stepped through our Hospice doors, on the coldest winter mornings when we had to use a hammer to break the thick ice on our pods - thinking of our patients and their families who rely on our vital services was the push we needed to continue”
cold water dip challenge. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
Someone’s life can change drastically in one year and by taking on this challenge the staff involved have been able to take a few moments each day to reflect and honour all those who they have cared for in the past, while also helping to ensure they can continue to support and care for future patients that will walk through the Hospice doors.
They have raised £1,550 so far for Hospice services with the hope of raising £3,000 overall. To mark the end of this amazing achievement the Hospice dippers will be hosting a fundraising party on September 12 in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry.
Evora Hospice needs to fundraise an incredible £4 million this year to allow them to continue to provide specialist palliative care to individuals in the counties of Armagh, Down and Tyrone.
To support the Hospice staff in their last push of this challenge go to https://bit.ly/4hO0p4V
