Paula’s home swim in Brain Freeze challenge
Paula Leonard, CEO of Alcohol Forum Ireland, kept up her Brain Freeze challenge last Monday, December 15, with a special swim at Lough Sillan. She stepped into the freezing December water having been hosted in her endeavours by Shercock resident, neuropsychologist and author Dr Sabina Brennan.
Paula’s goal is to break the silence around Alcohol Related Brain Injury (ARBI), a condition that affects many individuals and families in Ireland but remains widely misunderstood. The campaign also highlights the growing evidence that alcohol is a powerful neurotoxin and that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to brain health.
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Pictured from left Catherine Sheridan (MACYSS), Patricia Boyle (Service Manager MACYSS) and Dr Sabine Brennan all took part in the Brain Freeze Swim for Alcohol Forum Ireland in Lough Sillan on Monday morning.PHOTOS: ALEX COLEMAN Alex Coleman.Image 2 of 3
The swimmers took the water of Lough Sillan to raise awareness of Alcohol Related Brain Injury on Monday morning last. Alex Coleman.Image 3 of 3
The hardy bunch of swimmers who took to the waters of Lough Sillan on Monday last raising funds for Alcohol Related Brain Injury. Alex Coleman.Dr Brennan has a longstanding professional interest in brain health and the impact of alcohol across the lifespan, and she has recently collaborated with Alcohol Forum Ireland on a podcast examining the risks of teenage alcohol consumption during critical stages of brain development.
Paula’s 32 open-water swims in 32 consecutive days is set to finish January 1, 2026, and by the time of her Sillan dip she had successfully raised close to €3,000 of a €5,000 goal.
Donations can be made via iDonate by supporting Brain Freeze: Paula Leonard’s Dip.