Rossmar School take the plunge with Seacoast Dippers charity event

A charity sea dip event at Benone Beach in aid of Rossmar School in Limavady will take place on Sunday, June 15 at 11am and promises to be a fantastic family event.

Keen dipping enthusiasts are urged to join the charity event to support the Limavady Special School at a cost of £10 per dipper, which will go towards an equipment fund.

Anne-Marie Harkin, a parent of one of Rossmar’s pupils and co-ordinator of the Seacoast Dippers group explained the background to the event and the importance of supporting the school’s fund-raising efforts:

“I am just delighted to be a part of this as the school is exceptional and deserves it so much!

“Audrey and myself discussed organising a fundraiser for Rossmar School.

“Audrey is a classroom assistant at the school and also runs Friends of Rossmar and dedicates a lot of her time to fundraise for much needed equipment for the school.

“My son has attended Rossmar since the age of four and he is now currently third year and coming 14 years of age.

“Rossmar has been such a huge part of my life and my journey.

“I cannot begin to express how much support and love they have shown my family.

“Each member of staff is so dedicated and my son just loves being a part of such a great community. 

“As a parent this was my way of getting involved and giving something back - I used to volunteer in the school but I am now studying full time. 

“The dip is on 15th June at 11am and it’s a huge family event, a fun day with drinks and treats for everyone!

“We ask for a ten-pound donation from each family or whatever people can afford and there is also a Justgiving page set up.”

Anne-Marie suggested that anyone who had queries about the event message her on Facebook Messenger at Seacoast Dippers.

The Seacoast Dippers group, founded by Anne-Marie in 2021, are a connected community of dipping enthusiasts meeting weekly at Benone.

Rossmar is a co-educational Special School based in Limavady, catering for children with a wide range of learning difficulties, both moderate and severe in the age range of four to 19 years. 

The school, which has the motto of ‘Together, we grow, learn and succeed’, reflecting their unique family ethos, recently underwent a new state of the art build for their 190 pupils.

Audrey Moore, Chairperson of Friends of Rossmar School is delighted to be working alongside Seacoast Dippers to raise essential funds for the school; she said:

“Friends of Rossmar School are a dedicated charity set up to help the children of Rossmar School in Limavady, dedicating their time and efforts to fundraising.

“The majority of our fundraising goes towards sensory equipment and essentials for our children. 

“I am so pleased that Anne-Marie and myself had a conversation about doing the Sea-Dip.

“Then a few days later we were all planned and ready to tell everyone!

“It is a fun way to raise our profile as being a local special school.

“Some of our children will also participate and we encourage the local community and visitors to come along too.”

Donations for the event can be received via Just Giving and those taking part can give a donation of £10 on the day without signing up in advance.