Aiden nears end of 245km swim for Irish Cancer Society

Ballinasloe man Aiden Sheridan expects to finish up his 245km swim of the Shannon this Friday which took place over 14 days in order to raise funds for two cancer support charities.

Aiden will be swimming along Lough Derg for the next few days and is hoping to conclude the swim this Friday in Limerick city. He swam from Banagher to Portumna on Monday which is about 20km.

“The weather is promised good so I've a feeling I'll be on schedule,” commented Aiden.

Aiden said the support has been amazing for the fundraising swim. “The boating community have been so good with boats coming up the river to meet me. I'm blown away by the support.”

“The first few days were the worst. I hurt my shoulder on the first day of the swim and got physio in Shannon. I'm feeling stronger as the days go on,” added Aiden.

According to the Galway man, many people have recounted their stories to him of how their lives have been affected by cancer. “I couldn't put my finger on the amount of people I've talked to that have been touched by cancer.”

He completed a lot of training prior to undertaking the impressive 245km swim.

“I'm a strong swimmer. I started swimming last November for two hours in the pool every morning before work. Only five people have ever swam the length of the Shannon. I thought I would catch people's attention swimming.”

Aiden's fundraiser Sheridan Swims the Shannon has raised almost €38,000 to date with a fundraising target of €50,000 for the Irish Cancer Society and for the East Galway & Midlands Cancer Support Service.

Aiden previously ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise money for the charity Breast Cancer Ireland, after his sister Jennifer Sheridan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Luckily Jennifer recovered but Aiden's older brother Mark passed away in September 2017 after only being diagnosed with cancer in late August 2017.

“During the last conversation I had with Mark he was joking about my running 52 marathons after Jennifer was diagnosed and he said ‘you’re going to have to do something bigger for me,'” said Aiden.

“I would encourage everyone to make a donation because, as my family knows, cancer can strike anyone at any time, and it is so important that as much funding as possible is put into trying to find a cure for this devastating disease and into helping those who provide vital services to cancer patients and their families.”

For more visit the 'Sheridan SWIMS the Shannon' Facebook page and to make a donation please go to: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11420962_aiden-sheridan-s-page.html