CEO of Alcohol Forum Ireland Paula Leonard has raised more than €5,000 by taking on a swim a day for one month in Donegal’s freezing waters – and has revealed bold plans for another fundraiser.
‘Brain Freeze: Paula Leonard’s dip a day in December for Alcohol Related Brain Injury’ began in Rathmullan. Throughout the month, she swam at beaches across Donegal, Sligo and Mayo, and even took a dip in a lake in Cavan.
The Mayo native, who has been living in Donegal since 1998, is a friendly and familiar face at Alcohol Forum Ireland’s local office in Ballyraine.
Paula undertook the gruelling challenge to raise vital funds and awareness for alcohol related brain injury (ARBI), a condition often mistaken for dementia.
It is estimated that one in eight people with an alcohol problem will go on to develop some level of cognitive impairment due to alcohol consumption. The symptoms range from mild memory loss and confusion to more serious neurological impairments that can impact every aspect of a person’s life. In many cases, the signs of alcohol related brain injury are mistaken for mental illness, dementia or simply dismissed altogether.
For over a decade, Alcohol Forum Ireland has been an organisation that, through its Donegal office in Letterkenny, provides case coordination and support to individuals and families affected by alcohol related brain injury here in the county.
The organisation works to improve understanding of the condition, support recovery, and advocate for specialised rehabilitation services. With timely intervention, up to 75 per cent of those with ARBI can make a partial or full recovery.
Through her fundraiser, Paula wanted to tear down stigma of ARBI while raising vital funds for more supports such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy which can be so beneficial to clients affected by the condition. But, with long waiting lists for those, Paula wanted to raise “a little pot of money” so that some specialist supports could be available to her clients to help them on their recovery journey.
“A huge thank you to everyone from across Ireland who supported me on my first big fundraising challenge for Alcohol Forum Ireland.
“I managed 32 cold water swims in 32 days at beaches in Donegal, Mayo, Antrim and at the beautiful Lake Sillan in county Cavan,” said Paula.
A former swimming teacher and lifeguard, Paula will be supported on some of her swims by the swim community. She was also surrounded by well wishers, while local singer/songwriters Aidan Laird and Maria McCormack, sang festive songs as she braced the chilly waters.
“Plans are already underway for something bigger and bolder next year. Thanks to all those who supported the challenge – there was singing, breath work, tea drinking, dipping, swimming, chatting, and plenty of people happy to cheer me on from the shore.
“The campaign raised €5,029 in vital funding to support our work with alcohol related brain injury, and together we raised awareness about the condition, challenging stigma and breaking the silence.”
Breath work with Carol Anne O’Kane.