In July, Charlie and Damien will set out to cross the Irish Sea in a single effort attempt to make it from Greystones, Co. Wicklow to Holyhead in Wales by SUP and prone board for charity. Few have attempted to cross by SUP and even fewer have achieved it while no one has ever attempted to prone paddle across this stretch of water.

Setting out at 3am, the crossing will take anywhere between 14 and 20 hours. Both paddlers will be assisted by individual support boats manned by volunteers giving up time from family and work to assist with navigation, nutrition and hydration. This will be a gruelling endurance event requiring a significant physical and mental effort to make it across. As part of the event they are hoping to raise €15,000 split evenly between their three chosen charities: Wicklow SPCA, RNLI Wicklow and Purple House Cancer Supprt. To find out more about why these were selected, please read below.

With so many worthwhile charities currently operating, Charlie and Damien decided to try and generate so much needed funding for some local, Wicklow based organisations. With both of them undertaking the Irish Sea Crossing attempt, they thought it was appropriate to fundraise for a collective charity as well as two individual groups.

Wicklow RNLI was identified as the collective charity. Spending so much time in the water between training and the event as well as being lucky to grow up beside the coast, it was appropriate to collect for a water safety organisation. Considering how popular the sea has become in recent years, it is always very comforting to know that the RNLI are on hand to assist everybody and anyone regardless of the conditions.

For his individual charity, Charlie selected Sharpeshill - Wicklow SPCA. Having previously spent some time volunteering in the centre, Charlie has seen first hand how any amount of funding raised for this centre is of huge benefit to the workers and animals receiving care. With limited funding coming their direction it was important to Charlie to see some of the money raised to go to such a worthy cause.

Like many of us, cancer has played a significant role in Damien's life over the last number of years affecting both close family members and friends. Having witnessed first hand the impact of this illness he has seen how it not only takes a severe physical toll, but also a mental one. Purple House Cancer Support in Bray offer care to all those affected by cancer providing both Cancer Support & Psycho-Oncology services to people affected by Cancer, nationwide, free of charge. It is vital that services like this remain in place to assist all those in need.

Thank you for visiting our page and please donate whatever you can to help us reach our target.

3 fantastic charities, the Irish Sea, one big effort.

The Crossing 2022

Created by Charlie Damien

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