Antlers up and brace for the cold
With a bright pink hat and antlers on her head, eight-year-old Fíadh finished her final dip of the year, raising more than €3,100 euro for Breast Cancer Research. Members of the ‘Annagh Lake Dippers’ gathered at their local lake to celebrate the achievement of the young student on the day of Winter Solstice last Sunday.
“We initially had set a goal of €300 but, between the GoFundMe and cash donations, we are around €3,100,” said her proud mother Rebecca Neligan ahead of the final dip that was part of the ‘12 Dips of Christmas’ - a December fundraising challenge where people commit to taking 12 cold-water dips in the lakes to raise money for a chosen charity.
Image 1 of 3
Fíadh (8) with members of the Annagh Lake Dippers prior to her swim on Sunday afternoon. The group organised a great event for her including music, food and fun. Photos: Lorraine Teevan LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 2 of 3
Fíadh and her proud grandmother, Mary Higgins, who inspired Fíadh's fundraising. Mary is a breast cancer survivor. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Image 3 of 3
Fíadh and her friend Caitlin McMahon exit Annagh Lake following their swim. Caitlin was also fundraising for the Laura Lynn Foundation. LORRAINE TEEVAN 0877564735Fíadh loves swimming: “I go with my mum in the lake, I’m quite good.” When she heard of the challenge in October, she started preparing every week by getting used to the declining temperatures: “I wear my normal swimsuit but also swim shoes because of the rocks.
I go all the way in, until the water is over my shoulders,” Fíadh said.
She doesn’t mind the cold at all. “The other day, I didn’t want to go in with her,” said her mother. “It was 3 degrees, but she went in, no problem.”
Only once did Rebecca ask her to wear a wetsuit, because it was near freezing and Fíadh had a bit of a head cold. “There were some big feelings about that, but we got over it,” she laughed.
For her final dip, Fíadh brought “loads of Rocky Road” to the lake to eat before “and after” along with hot chocolate and tea for everyone.
Even as a young person, she understands that €3,100 is “a huge amount”. People from the family, the town, clubs and beyond contributed to the good cause.