By Lisa Ramsden
A group of friends are gearing up for the swimming challenge of a lifetime. Later this year, The Lecale Selkies — who hail from Downpatrick, Saul, Killough and Seaforde — will swim the North Channel as a relay team, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for a children’s charity.
The North Channel is considered one of the toughest long-distance swims in the world due to its cold temperatures, powerful currents and the added hazards of jellyfish, as well as the challenge of crossing a busy shipping lane. The team will swim from Donaghadee to Scotland, making landfall along the coastline near Portpatrick on the Rhins of Galloway peninsula.
If a straight line could somehow be maintained, the distance would be 34.5km (around 21.5 miles). However, with complex and strong tidal currents, the swim could extend to approximately 45km (28 miles). The swimmers will also cross the famous Beaufort’s Dyke, a long and extremely deep underwater trench.
Taking on the challenge in June are Colum Surginor, Emma Bohill, Tony McLaughlin, Ursula Tumelty, Jerry McGrady and Julie Quinn, along with reserve swimmer and ‘team motivator’ Stephen Heasley. The swim will test both their physical strength and mental resilience.
Endurance sea swimming requires not only exceptional fitness, but also grit, tenacity, willpower and determination. The team will rely heavily on one another as they complete their respective legs of the challenge. Only one swimmer will be in the water at a time, with the rest aboard the support vessel, resting and mentally preparing for their next 60-minute front-crawl stint.
In many ways, the course will be out of their control, and if the route extends to the longer distance, some swimmers could find themselves in the water at night. They will not wear dry suits or use flippers, in order to remain as streamlined as possible, and have also decided not to use grease, which is often applied by long-distance swimmers for skin protection and insulation.
The strait they will cross is renowned for its cold waters, strong tides and jellyfish. The team’s name, The Lecale Selkies, nods to the mythological shape-shifting creatures from Celtic folklore that appear as seals in the water but become human on land.
All funds raised from the challenge will go to The Wave Project NI, based on the Causeway Coast, which provides surf lessons for children as a way of supporting young people’s mental health through surf therapy. The team decided to take on the challenge after learning more about the stark reality of the mental health crisis facing children, and the work the charity is doing to support as many young people as possible.
According to the NHS, one in five children in the UK now have a probable mental health condition, an increase from one in nine in 2017. The Wave Project is committed to tackling this issue head-on, offering innovative and effective solutions to support the wellbeing of young people and their families, with more than 14,000 young people having accessed surf therapy to date.
The charity recognises the urgent need for accessible, tailored support that meets the unique needs of young people. Its programmes are designed to foster resilience, build self-esteem and equip participants with the tools and strategies needed to navigate life’s challenges.
“We want kids who don’t have access to the sea, and it seemed an obvious choice that Wave was the right thing to be raising money for,” Colum explained.
In addition to their JustGiving page, they have planned a pub quiz, which will be held at The Lakeside Inn at Ballydugan at 8pm on 28 March.
Teams, of up to six people, can register to take part by contacting Margaret on 07789 208859 or Ursula on 07762 928409. It will cost £5 per person.
To make a donation online visit justgiving.com and, using its search option, type in ‘Lecale
Selkies fundraiser for The Wave Project’.
Read the full story in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
