Taking the plunge for mental health
A Cavan woman has spoken about how proud she is of her daughter who raised money for charity by plunging into cold water every day for the month of October.
Fourteen-year-old Grace Brady from Tomasson near Belturbet raised €630 for Mental Health Ireland by going for a dip in local lakes, Lake Annagh, Brackley Lake and Killywilly Lough as part of the #coldtober challenge.
Grace’s mother Geraldine said that her daughter was very dedicated to the task for the entire month and never once looked to skip a day.
“She never complained once. There were some evenings when I got home from work and I was wrecked but she was still asking to be brought up to the lake, she was very dedicated. Every day she got in she screamed with the cold but she would laugh at the same time. Some days her sisters Clara (8) and Eve (11) went with her.
“She started on the first of October so she had time to acclimatise to it as the month went on, if she started on the 25th of October she would have gotten a shock.”
Geraldine who works as a psychiatric nurse said conversations about mental health are normal in their family home, which prompted Grace to do the challenge, which in turn could help others to improve their mental well-being.
“She was thinking of a lot of people her own age who have suffered from mental health issues over the last few years. Especially since the lockdown kicked in as it caused people with for mental health issues to get worse.
“She felt if she could do this challenge she could use it to promote ways people could build resilience such as getting out walking, swimming and being involved in community events.”
Grace who goes to St Mogue's School in Bawnboy originally got the idea from social media, where she promoted her campaigns to raise awareness and funds according to Geraldine.
“She originally saw it being advertised on Instagram. Through Instagram and Facebook we advertised what she doing and raised awareness for the charity.
“We had a family wedding last in the last week of October eight people from the wedding even got into a lake with us the next day,” said Geraldine, who is so proud of Grace’s achievement.