A pupil from Killinchy transformed childhood pool lessons into sustained open water swimming challenges, raising funds for Marie Curie while commemorating her aunt
Nine-year-old Jessica Cairns turned grief into a wave of generosity when she began swimming to raise money for Marie Curie. What started as a personal tribute to her aunt Carol—who received end-of-life care from the charity—grew into two sustained fundraising campaigns that captured her small coastal town’s imagination.
From pools to open sea
Jessica learned to swim in a pool, but when the family decided to honour Carol, she took the challenge into open water. Her first effort was a remarkable streak of daily swims: 31 consecutive dips at Ballymorran Bay, each session lasting about 15–20 minutes as she swam from shore to a nearby small island and back.
Not long after, she set off on an even longer run of 61 consecutive days. For a child who’d trained indoors, the cold, changing tides and the sheer scale of the open sea tested her physically and emotionally—but she kept going.
A tribute with a purpose
This wasn’t a symbolic gesture alone. The swims were organised by family members who swim together locally and wanted the events to reflect Carol’s spontaneous, joyful spirit. The goal was practical: to raise funds so Marie Curie nurses can be there for other families facing the same heartache. The campaign blended private memory, community participation and a clear charitable aim—an approach that resonated widely.
Practical planning and safety
Every swim was underpinned by careful planning. Spotters, flotation aids, shore-based check-ins and volunteer observers monitored weather and sea conditions before each session. Local residents helped with logistics—sometimes offering escort boats—and volunteers handled the day-to-day safety needs. The campaign’s short, repeatable swims made logistics manageable, but they also required steady coordination to keep Jessica safe throughout weeks of cold-water swims.
Community momentum and digital reach
Neighbours, friends, former teachers and local media turned out for the final swims, bringing moral support and spur-of-the-moment donations. Online giving tools made it easy for people farther afield to contribute and to claim Gift Aid, and the constant visibility helped sustain morale during the tougher days. What began as a modest target ballooned into thousands of pounds raised across the two campaigns, with a substantial online total from the second challenge alone.
Charity partnership and transparency
Marie Curie supported the family with materials and encouragement and showed how donations are used—a transparency the family said mattered. That openness, combined with straightforward digital fundraising and strong local backing, helped the effort exceed expectations and inspired others.
What this shows about grassroots fundraising
Jessica’s story reflects a wider trend: young people and grassroots athletes are turning personal stories into sustained, impactful fundraising. When local mobilisation meets simple tech tools, small campaigns can scale quickly and influence how communities plan logistics, outreach and targets.
Where families can find help
The campaign also highlighted how crucial specialist end-of-life care and bereavement services are to families. Marie Curie offers practical information, nursing support and counselling, and small local donations can add up to meaningful services for those in need. Early investment in these supports reduces long-term emotional and financial strain on households.
How communities and organisations can prepare
Small, practical steps can make a big difference: map referral paths to hospice and specialist services, publish clear resource lists, coordinate with local providers, and promote trusted channels for donations and volunteering. Modest, well-directed community action consistently produces measurable support for bereaved families—and Jessica’s swims show how a single family’s grief can galvanise an entire town into action.
