2 swims in fairly hectic conditions again.
swim distance 1 - 1.38km
swim distance 2 - 1.36km
Swim total 50.52km
So we finsihed ahead of time this year and I'm glad to be done for Christmas to give everyone involved a break. It has been a harsh month weather wise to be swimming every night and for support to be out on the beach in all weather. This year's challenge was faced with relentless heavy weather. It seemed like the wild north atlantic didn't let up for more than a few moments before again raging at the coast.
A ship wreck in heavy fog lead to men overboard thankfully being rescued, but the broken up ship has been washing ashore all of December in various bits and pieces. During my swim I have come across part of the wheel house, the bow and other smaller bits and pieces in the dark. It was less than ideal but in honour of the message of 'Keep Swimming', after some discussions about it, it was decided that I should keep going albeit with some added safety measures.
Some nights the sea would not let me go. I was forced to change direction and swim back and forth to escape heavy inshore currents and surf.
When I started this campaign back in the pandemic of 2020, I had all the time in the world or so it seemed. I focussed on swimming every night and worked hard to raise awareness of the mental health pandemic we appear to have in Northern Ireland magnifiuedby the pandemic. I swam every night for three months in the darkest and coldest months of the year December - March clocking up over 100km's of night surf swimming. As time has gone on and life is back to full steam ahead I have had to evaluate how much time I can give each year to the campaign and so this year that was to swim a total of 50km in the month of December. Next year it might be something different, I'm not sure yet, it all depends on life at the time.
But the message is still the same. To overcome dark times in life, we need to keep swimming, we need to keep showing up for ourselves and doing everything we can to keep our heads above water. We must face whatever comes at us from the dark and by showing up time and time again we eventually break through the darkness. The light we create begins to brighten our paths and the darkness is forced out. We live in times where medical help is stretched and I have personally heard many stories were people have not been able to access help when they need it. We must try to keep ourselves going, look out for others who may also be struggling whilst seeking help. We live in a tiny community in Northern Ireland and yes, there is some division but we are without doubt a people of passion, united in many ways despite a difference in beliefs. A legacy of conflict has no doubt left a mark here but by pulling together and making this part of the world better, I believe we can come through this.
During this campaign there have been several tragedies locally and I would be lying if i said they didnt take the wind out of my sails for a moment. I doubted that this campaign was even worth doing at one point but thanks to the friends I have helping with the campaign encouraging me to keep going, we got it done.
Firstly a thank you to everyone that follows along, shares the message, donates money and checks in with me.
Huge thank you as always to those that came down and supported with safety, land support, hot chocolate and everything inbetween.
Mark Millar, Laura Montgomery, Rich Robinson, Denise Hanna, Mark Soberjska, Leigh Hawthorne.
If you come across this campaign and feel that you may benefit from help or advice to keep your head above water please reach out to the professionals working in the field of mental health. I am not sure of who those people are in every country in the world but where I live some of the best are....
NHS, Aware, Pieta, Pips and the Samaritans.
If you would like to donate some funds to one of these charities this is the link....
Thank you.
Bye for now.
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