Christmas Day swim sees Leitrim woman raise over €1000 for Gaza Appeal

On Christmas Day, nineteen-year-old Rhianna Nealis from Kinlough braved the icy waters of Glenade Lake alongside others in a community swim she organised in aid of charity, raising almost €1,400 for Gaza.

Rhianna organised the Christmas Day swim at Glenade Lake to raise funds for the Irish Red Cross Gaza Appeal. She initially set a fundraising goal of €500, but by the close of donations on January 6, the total had reached €1,365.

“It was honestly overwhelming in the best possible way. I set the €500 target thinking it was realistic and achievable, but to see it more than double showed just how generous people were,” said Rhianna. “Realising how many people wanted to support the cause made the swim feel much bigger than something I was doing on my own.”

This marked Rhianna’s second Christmas swim at Glenade Lake, after organising one in 2024 with her family to raise funds for North West Hospice. This year’s event attracted even greater support, with more people participating in and attending the swim.

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“There was a great turnout. Some joined me in the water, others came to support from the pier. The atmosphere was incredibly supportive and warm despite the cold,” she explained.

Rhianna, who studies event management in Dublin, is keen to organise more community events in the future. “As an event management student, it’s shown me how powerful community-led initiatives can be, and it’s something I’d love to build on by making the swim an annual event,” she said.

Reflecting on the impact of the swim and the funds raised for a cause close to her heart, Rhianna said, “I didn’t feel like I was doing anything extraordinary, but the response proved that individual actions can create real impact when they’re rooted in a shared purpose.” 

The event’s success highlighted for her the strength of community support and how meaningful change can emerge when people unite around a shared cause. “For me, the swim represented solidarity, hope and the power of collective action. It was a reminder that even in moments of celebration like Christmas, we can hold space for those who are suffering and choose to act, even in small ways,” she concluded.

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