24 hours, 12 kayakers, and €10,000 raised for the RNLI!
On June 10th, twelve kayakers took on the challenge of each kayaking for 24 hours to raise funds for the RNLI.
The RNLI is a charity that is powered primarily by kind donations. The RNLI provide lifesaving support both at sea and on inland waterways 24/7.
The team decided to raise funds for this extraordinary charity as they would be one of the first to respond if any kayaker got into difficulty.
The day started out with a circumnavigation of Cork City, joined by over 30 kayakers, kids, teens and adults. This is a bucket list item for many a Cork paddler making it a special experience for all. A floating breakfast was served in a canoe shortly after fuelling the team for the rest of the gruelling 24 Hours.
Free development clinics were hosted next. A wide range of clinics were run for free by experienced instructors from rescue clinics, to rolling to freestyle. Throughout, the team members were busy assisting while others were busy paddling on the little whitewater we had downstream.
The community support, laughter, shenanigans were all crucial in getting through 24 hours of flat-water kayaking!
At 9pm the team set off on another circumnavigation, joined by over 20 people who were eager to tick this venture off their bucket list. Kayaking through Cork City at night, the bridges lit up and seeing the nightlife from a different perspective was an unforgettable experience for most.
The final 8 hours were probably the hardest for the team, it was cold, dark and everyone was tired. The team kept their spirits high by singing songs, listening to music and sharing stories.
The team finished their 24 hours at 8am on June 11th raising a final figure of over €10,000 for the RNLI. They had been raising money online as part of their challenge alongside a raffle and an auction to help gather more donations. No one envisioned raising this much money but it was a very welcome surprise after their efforts.
Organiser: Anaїs O’Donovan (author)
Assistant Organisers: Simon Champ, Andy Jeffers
Team Paddlers: Niamh Bambrick, Sarah O’Connor, Alex Murphy, Ciaran Usher, Brian O’Reilly, Jordan Keohane, Jamie O’Brien, Olan O’Brien, Mark Kearney
