Tracy Piggott launches fundraiser for Kildare charity

IN what has become a ‘sensational’ time for a Kildare town charity, not only have they secured almost €5m in Government funding, local celebrity Tracey Piggott has announced she is to swim across Galway Bay underwater in aid of them.

Unsurprisingly, the horseracing supremo chose the Irish National Stud to announce this extraordinary challenge in aid of Sensational Kids – the charity that specialises in the developmental assessments, and accessible therapies affordable for children and adolescents with additional needs.

Taking place during Galway Race Week on 28 July, the challenge will see Tracy complete a 14km solo sub-aqua swim from the Martello Tower at Finvarra Point in Co Clare to the Blackrock diving tower at Salthill in Galway City.

Unbelievably, this will not be her first time to do this, as she achieved this feat for the first time 28 years ago in 1998.

The idea is to swim in silence so children don’t have to struggle unheard.

She will spend up to eight hours underwater in cold Atlantic conditions, powered by breath control, resilience and determination.

“I’m returning to it now because it feels deeply personal,” said Tracy.

“I’m doing this because I believe every child has the right to be seen, understood, supported and given the right help at the right time.

“Sensational Kids does extraordinary work across Ireland — making life-changing therapy accessible to families who would otherwise be left waiting and struggling.

"If you’re in a position to support this fundraiser, I would be truly grateful. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference”.

This powerful initiative aims to raise vital funds to support children with additional needs by improving access to therapy services across Ireland.

Tracy’s swim aims to shine a light on the voices of children and families who often go unheard, reinforcing the message that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.

This challenge raises life-changing support for children with additional needs across Ireland. Sensational Kids is a national Irish charity delivering specialist support through four regional Child Development Centres across all four provinces — reaching families and cutting through the barriers that delay support.

Last week, Sensational Kids finally secured the €4.8m Department of Justice funding to complete phase one of their new build that was stalled since December 2024.

“It’s taken a bit of time and pain,” said Claire Keane from Sensational Kids, “but we’ll finish phase pne and fundraise for phase two."

Since 2007, we have transformed the lives of more than 11,000 children by providing expert, individualised care delivered by a multidisciplinary team of Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Play Therapists and Chartered Educational Psychologists.

Timely intervention can change everything — yet many families face long waiting lists, high costs and limited access to therapy. Every metre Tracy swims helps a child get support when it matters most.