Fundraising paddle from Belturbet to Belleek

A fundraiser by a man with early on-set Alzheimer's, who paddled the length of Lough Erne with friends last weekend, has raised almost doubled its initial £3,000 starting goal.

“They're a good bunch alright, good friends in fairness,” beams Jimmy Gavin of the more than a dozen friends and family readying themselves to take to the water from Belturbet to Belleek.

Last year the Fermanagh man was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer's.

Jimmy's brother Joe helped organise this paddle, and he described the response as “incredible”.

By Monday, the total was heading towards £6,000 with more donations still to arrive.

“It's all about raising awareness really, and some funds for Alzheimer's charities,” explains Joe, who completed the Viking Row up Lough Erne a few years back, with Jimmy kayaking alongside.

Some present last Saturday morning were planning to paddle part of the way. There would be others too who'd join at various points along this epic river adventure.

Starting from Belturbet last Saturday morning, August 24, the group travelled 37km by water to Bellanaleck; and roughly about 10km more than that on day two to finally reach Belleek on Sunday.

Up until Covid hit, Jimmy ran his own outdoor adventure company by the banks of Lough Easkey.

The Maguiresbridge native, latterly of Lisnaskea and Dromore West in Sligo, was in the middle of final preparations for the paddle when he stopped to speak with the Celt.

Jimmy believes it's important to speak about his diagnosis. It took months for it to be confirmed, and only after a plethora of cognitive tests.

“I was forgetting things and what not. Little things, but not like me. I said it to different ones and you know, a lot of them they said to me 'don't worry about that, everyone forgets things'. But you know best yourself. Low and behold it was Alzheimer's. Really, you just have to get up and get on with it.”

Jimmy is a man who has “always tried at least” to live life to the fullest.

“There's no point in lying down. You could be doing nothing or doing this. We're about to head off now, there's good people with me.”

Marcus Mundy from Belturbet was among those joining Jimmy on the paddle.

He got to know Jimmy through his love of adventure sports. Earlier this summer the Cavan man kayaked across Donegal Bay. A kayak instructor with the Western Trust, he also helps teaching people how to paddle with the Belturbet Rowing Club during the summer months. “I've known Jimmy a few years. He's been a brilliant support for so many people. You can see by the amount of people who've come out to join him, just how highly people think of him. This has always been a major passion of his, so it's brilliant to be part of.”