Over 200 women took part in The Pink Knickers Swim at Inchydoney Beach in Clonakilty yesterday (Sunday 23 October 2022) raising €10,000. The event, which is the first of its kind in Clonakilty, was held to raise funds for The Irish Cancer Society, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to support the local fundraising efforts in Clonakilty to help build a new inclusive playground.
The sea was awash with colour as pink ladies travelled from all over Cork County yesterday morning to participate in a pink knickered themed swim at Inchydoney Beach.
Amongst the women donning pink were friends Tessa Hanafin and Ger White, from Ballincollig who have both undergone treatment for breast cancer this year. For Ger it was her routine mammogram that led to her diagnosis, and for Tessa, she found a lump on her breast when she was self-checking at home. Both are now on the road to recovery, and they urge others to be breast aware and to not ignore the warning signs of breast cancer. They were joined yesterday by friends Eva McArdle and Anneliese Dressel (also Ballincollig).
Mother and Daughter duo, Valerie Crean and Sandra Quin, both from Bandon, joined the hundreds of women swimming in solidarity for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as they too have experienced family members undergo cancer treatments.
They joined the many women who attended yesterday’s event to celebrate the memories of loved ones affected by cancer, and to share their own personal stories with each other. The road to recovery for some was greatly helped by taking up sea swimming and the many health benefits it provides. Liz Hilliard (Enniskeane) was joined by friend Val Walsh (Rochestown). Liz, who is in recovery from breast cancer, found sea swimming was therapeutic during her cancer treatment.
Eileen McNicholl (from Leap) who has also recovered from breast cancer took up sea swimming in recent years and she was joined yesterday at The Pink Knickers Swim with close friends Jacinta Looney (Glandore) and Helaine O’Regan (Blackrock).
Orla O’Donovan, an organiser of The Pink Knickers Swim event said, “We are thrilled that so many women joined us for the first ever Pink Knickers Swim in Clonakilty. We are so thankful for everyone’s participation and their kind donations, and to the sponsors of the event who helped make this a huge success. We are looking forward to next year and we hope to see even more ladies turning up in their pink knickers to help raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
To mark the Irish Cancer Society’s Big Pink Breakfast and ‘Care For Your Pair’ campaign this October, those who registered were invited to an exclusive post swim beach picnic breakfast on the beach, supplied by Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa Hotel.
The registration fee also included a goodie bag which contained a pair of pink knickers and surprise gifts, courtesy of Harrington’s Pharmacy, Crowley’s Pharmacy, Auntie Nellies Sweet Shop and Dunmore House Hotel. A Brakeburn changing robe donated by Gooseberry Boutique, Clonakilty, was won by Nicola Gleeson from Clonakilty.
This October during Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Irish Cancer Society are asking women to ‘Care For Your Pair’ and are encouraging family and friends to do the same. To learn more about the signs of breast cancer and how to self-check, visit cancer.ie/careforyourpair
Proceeds from the event will help fund vital breast cancer research, as well as support the local fundraising efforts in Clonakilty to build a new, safe and inclusive playground. The new playground will focus on a design that caters for all with accessible equipment and a sensory play area as part of Clonakilty’s plan to be an autism friendly town. Donations to The Pink Knickers Swim 2022 are still being accepted: https://www.idonate.ie/event/pinkknickersswim22
