Kayle Crosson | Senior Staff Writer
Approximately fifty friends of Pádraig Schaler, a recent Trinity graduate of Irish and History, assembled at the weekend for a swim challenge and collected approximately €32,000 in funds for their “fun and loyal” friend who is currently in a coma. All funds that were raised this weekend will go to a special fund that has been set up to sustain the costs of Pádraig’s care, Caring for Pádraig.
The Swim for Pádraig challenge commenced last Saturday, April 12 as the group took off for their first swim around seventeen counties from Balbriggan in County Dublin. The group continued right around the coast of Ireland, drawing the swim to a close on Sunday night at the Oceanside of Bray. As Pádraig is a talented swimmer and passionate about his nation’s mother tongue, the event was held in both English and Irish.
The event organiser, Aodhan O Dea, was overwhelmed by the support Pádraig’s cause received, describing the atmosphere as being “electric and a true testament to Pádraig and his spirit”.
Schaler is residing in a rehabilitative neurological care in Germany after being knocked off his bike by a truck whilst on a visit to Cape Cod last summer, and despite the severity of his condition, he is making slow but consistent progress since the move. After the accident, Pádraig had initially been in an Intensive Care Unit in the United States, and then after a number of weeks returned to Ireland. Some months later, his family decided to move him to Hamburg, Germany where he is currently undergoing the treatment he needs. Schaler’s dedicated friends have previously held numerous fundraising events, however the latest one was quite a physical challenge.
Donations are still being accepted for The Swim for Pádraig Cause, and further funds can be donated through http://www.idonate.ie/766/snamh-phadraig/.
