Connect with us

Charity

Kayaking for CARI launches on Lough Derg ahead of September charity challenge

Published

1 month ago

on

Kayaking for CARI 2026 official launch and photocall took place at Flanagan’s on the Lake on Thursday, 6th August, with representatives from CARI, ASecure Ltd and the local community
joining adventure kayaker Johnny Coyne to help promote the challenge.

CARI has officially launched Kayaking for CARI 2026, a new charity challenge which will see participants take on approximately 20 kilometres of Lough Derg

Kayaking for CARI has been designed as a fun, supported group paddle rather than a race. Participants will paddle at a manageable pace, with planned rest stops and safety support along the route.
Kayaking for CARI has been designed as a fun, supported group paddle rather than a race. Participants will paddle at a manageable pace, with planned rest stop and safety support along the route.

CARI has officially launched Kayaking for CARI 2026, a new charity challenge
which will see participants take on approximately 20 kilometres of Lough Derg on
Saturday, 5th September, raising vital funds for CARI’s specialist services for
children and families.

The event will begin at Garrykennedy Harbour in County Tipperary and finish at
Flanagan’s on the Lake in Ballina/Killaloe, bringing together paddlers, businesses
and local communities from across the region.

The official launch and photocall took place at Flanagan’s on the Lake on Thursday,
6th August, with representatives from CARI, ASecure Ltd and the local community
joining adventure kayaker Johnny Coyne to help promote the challenge.


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement


advertisement
advertisement

Also attending were CARI Chief Executive Clinical Officer (CECO) Emer O’Neill,
CARI Fundraising Coordinator Raymond Traynor, Killaloe Councillor Tony O’Brien,
Ballina Councillor Phyll Bugler, and Andy and Fiona Meek of ASecure Ltd.

Kayaking for CARI has been designed as a fun, supported group paddle rather
than a race. Participants will paddle at a manageable pace, with planned rest stops
and safety support along the route.

The event aims to provide an enjoyable challenge on one of Ireland’s most
spectacular waterways while raising funds and awareness for CARI.

The event aims to provide an enjoyable challenge on one of Ireland’s most spectacular waterways while raising funds and awareness for CARI.
The event aims to provide an enjoyable challenge on one of Ireland’s most spectacular waterways while raising funds and awareness for CARI.

CARI is a national specialist service supporting children, young people and families
affected by child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour. Through its centres
in Dublin and Limerick, CARI provides specialist therapeutic services, assessments,
support for parents and families, and guidance at a time when families can be facing
enormous uncertainty.

Raymond Traynor, Fundraising Coordinator with CARI, said, “We wanted to create an event that brings people together around a positive
challenge while raising funds for an incredibly important service. Lough Derg gives
us a fantastic setting, and we’ve already received brilliant support from businesses,
paddlers and communities around Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.”

He added, “You are not racing anyone. This is about taking on the challenge together, enjoying
the experience and knowing that every participant and every euro raised is helping
CARI provide specialist support to children and families.”

CARI is a national specialist service supporting children, young people and families affected by child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.
CARI is a national specialist service supporting children, young people and families affected by child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.

Participants will need access to a suitable kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid, with all
equipment subject to the event’s safety requirements and pre-launch inspection.

Interested in taking part but don’t currently have access to a kayak? Contact Raymond at CARI at [email protected]. They may be able to connect prospective participants with local contacts who can help.

Registration costs €50, with participants encouraged to aim for a fundraising target of
€250.

CARI has now secured access to 30 kayaks, along with paddles and buoyancy aids, meaning people who would like to take part no longer need to own their own equipment.

For CARI, there is a strong connection to the work we do every day. We understand the importance of having the right tools and resources available when they are needed, and we wanted to make sure lack of equipment wasn’t a barrier for people who wanted to support our latest fundraising event.

Participants will take on approximately 20km from Garrykennedy Harbour to Ballina/Killaloe in a fun, supported group paddle rather than a race.

The organisers are particularly keen to hear from paddlers, kayaking and
watersports clubs, workplaces, sports clubs and groups who may be interested in
entering individually or taking on the challenge together.

Local businesses and community organisations can also support the event by
sharing it with their staff, customers and networks.

Kayaking for CARI takes place on Saturday, 5th September 2026.

More information is available here.

Participants can register and begin fundraising here.

Related Topics:

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.