Cadets swim 15km on the go for muscle charity

TWO Naval Service cadets swam 15km non-stop yesterday to raise money for a charity for those suffering from a muscle weakening disease.

Jason O’Brien, from Galway, and Michael McCarthy from Cobh, completed the gruelling swim from Cork city to their base in Haulbowline in four hours and 15 minutes.

Three other cadets, Mark Harman, Glenn Landy and Helen Meredith, also completed the course, but swam in relays with Naval Service instructors.

Clad in wetsuits they entered the River Lee at South Custom House Quay.

There to wish them luck was the Port of Cork’s commercial manager Michael McCarthy who was proud to discover some hours later that his son, Michael junior, was one of the two swimmers to complete the full course.

It is expected their endeavour will raise about €2,500 for Myasthenia Gravis Association, Ireland.

Each year the cadet class undertakes a charity fundraiser. Some of last year’s cadet class ran the Edinburgh city marathon and raised €2,000 for AWARE.

Naval Service spokesman Lt Comdr Terry Ward said conditions had been ideal for the swim as there was a good flow of water running down the river.