Gerard Kennedy, a patient at the Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons (CRYP) in Tallaght Hospital, has set himself the challenge of swimming over 60km across the Irish Sea from the United Kingdom waters to the shore line in Bray, Co Wicklow. The swim will begin on 22nd August and will be in aid of CRY, the charity set up to help those affected by Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).
The 45 year old, from Cabinteely Dublin 18, knows firsthand the work that is done by CRY, and the CRYP Centre funded by the charity in Tallaght Hospital, and wants to do his bit to raise vitally needed funds. Money raised from Gerard’s swim will be used to fund the activities of the CRYP Centre which provides comprehensive cardiac evaluation of those who may be at risk from sudden cardiac death (SCD) either because of family history or worrying symptoms.
Gerard has been training hard for this swim and is no stranger to a challenge. He is the Swim Director of Ironman Dublin 2015, completed a 24 hour sea swim challenge in 2014, pool sessions in bray 34 km in 14 hours, 4 Ice miles water temperature under 5 degrees Celsius, one of the top 10 toughest challenges in open water swimming and also represented Ireland at the ICE swimming world championships in Murmansk, Russia.
Speaking about his upcoming adventure Gerard said “I am really looking forward to taking on this challenge. I am used to pushing myself as I have done numerous things like this before including a triathlon however this test means a lot more to me as I myself am a patient at the CRYP Centre in Tallaght Hospital and knowing that I am raising vital funds for the work they carry out in there, will give me the extra push I need. The tests and support carried out in the Centre mean so much to so many people affected by Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) and people coping with cardiac risk. For me the Centre has helped me deal with the challenges that face me so I in turn am looking forward to helping others by raising lots of money for CRY”.
The service provided at the CRYP Centre in Tallaght Hospital is available to anyone in the country (via GP referral) and is free to the patient. The Centre currently receives no direct Government funding.
Speaking about CRY and the huge challenge Gerard is taking on, Lucia Ebbs from CRY said: “CRY depends heavily on fundraising to ensure we can continue to provide the free screening service in Tallaght Hospital and the funds raised by Gerard will go directly towards the services carried out there. We are so thankful to Gerard for taking on this challenge in aid of CRY and wish him every success in his challenge. ”
CRY is an Irish registered charity, which was founded in 2002, that supports families who have lost a relative to sudden cardiac death (SCD) and helps raise awareness of the conditions that cause it.
For more information see www.cry.ie.
