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Objective
To raise $100,000 by swimming from Parramatta Wharf to Manly
Wharf on Sunday 2nd March 2003. The funds raised will be used to refurbish the leukaemia unit
at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.
This refurbishment will create a more home-like environment for
both patients suffering from life-threatening diseases and for the
families supporting them.
How
can you help?
The timing of the swim coinciding with the 2003 Clean Up
Australia Day and the final lead into the NSW elections will ensure
extensive media coverage.
Rotary Clubs will be organising events at the start, finish
and at various spots along the route ensuring exposure to the general
public.
Sponsoring
options include:
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Taking name rights to the swim with coverage at the start
and finish events of the swim.
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Hire of the cruiser supporting the swim for 2 hour timeslots
for corporate entertaining. We
are planning to have “support celebrities”, including past
Olympians, on the boat.
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Sponsorship signage on the cruiser.
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Sponsorship of Start Breakfast and Finish Event.
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Sponsorship of Deke’s simmers, swimcap, food, etc.
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Donation to leukaemia unit.
MY
reasons for doing this swim
I was given the idea by friends two years ago but, at that
time, I did not have the opportunity.
My family enjoys the best of health and I have no relatives
touched by cancer. However,
my family’s involvement in Rotary over 30 years has given me an
insight into the power of business people to make a difference in our
worldwide community who need help.
My physical abilities, combined with Rotary’s
organisational skills (and your support), provide an avenue to make a
difference to the patients and their families during their treatment
for a life threatening disease at Royal North Shore’s haematology
unit.
Open
Water
swimming achievements
I am a competitive Open Water swimmer and regularly compete
in 5km, 10km and 25km events at State and National level As well as
the beach swims such as the Steyne swim, Balmoral Beach swim, Mona
Vale Mighty Marathon, Umina Beach swim, Inaugural Sydney Harbour swim,
Shark Island swim and many others.
Why
a 35km swim?
Because this is approximately the distance swam across the
English Channel!
Approximately 500 people have swum solo across the English
Channel including many Australians.
The swim from Parramatta Wharf to Manly Wharf will be a first
and will be included in the Guinness Book of Records.
This swim could not have been attempted previously due to
river pollution but cleanups over recent years have now made such a
swim feasible.
This will therefore be the FIRST swim of what will hopefully
become an annual event and will set a challenge to future swimmers.
Rotary
International
Rotary is an organization of business and professional
leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage
high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and
peace in the world. The
rotary movement is in more than 160 countries worldwide, with
approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belonging to more than 30,000
Rotary clubs.
This Parramatta to Manly Marathon Swim is the brainchild of
the Rotary Club of Beecroft. The
Club was chartered 30 years ago and has been serving the local and
international Community ever since.
Deke will be the third generation of his family committed to
the ideals of Rotary. His
grandfather was Charter President of the Cub in 1972 and is still
active in Club functions. His father is also an active member.
Royal
North Shore Hospital
Royal North Shore Hospital is home to a busy Haematology
unit, which treats patients with Leukaemia, lymphoma and other life
threatening blood disorders. The
unit includes a 22-bed leukaemia ward where our sickest patients are
treated with high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, often
requiring many weeks in hospital.
The Haematology team comprises highly skilled medical, nursing
and scientific staff, who provide world-class care of our patients.
However, the Leukaemia unit itself is in need of refurbishment
to provide our patients with a pleasant and supportive environment
during their treatment and recovery.
Cure rates for adult leukaemia and lymphoma are now as high as
40%, with good responses to treatment (remissions) in as many as 80%
of patients. Please help
us to brighten patients’ lives by sponsoring Deke.
Contacts
If you or your business can support this worthwhile cause
and be part of this inaugural event please contact:
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