Ballyshannon couple complete the 12 dips of December challenge and say thanks

Paul and Marie McLoone from Ballyshannon completed the 12 dips of December challenge.

The youthful 70-year-olds did so to assist the fundraising activities of the Irish Heart Foundation and Pieta House over the festive season.

"The sea temperature off the coast of Donegal was particularly chilly over the past two weeks, but we have been motivated by the tremendous charitable fundraising activities that have taken place in our catchment area over the last 12 months' say the McLoones.

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"Hundreds of thousands of euros have been raised for various charities, including a number of cancer care groups very dear to our hearts. We were blown away when our own Abbey Bay residents' association raised a staggering €10k in one night for Relay for Life Donegal in early June.

“We are all privileged to live in communities here in Donegal where there is an ethos of helping others with a particular emphasis on providing assistance where it is most badly needed. It is great for us to play our small part, and we encourage everyone to give generously to the charity of their choice over this Christmas period.

“Finally, on behalf of the whole McLoone family, we would like to thank everyone throughout Donegal from the bottom of our hearts for the tremendous empathy, compassion and support we received following our beloved brother Michael's passing on November 30 last".