This September, Alan Clack will undertake one of swimming's most difficult challenges to raise funds for The Montreal Children's Hospital.
MONTREAL, July 25, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - While most of us celebrate our birthdays with candles and cake, 43-year-old Montrealer Alan Clack will mark his by swimming the English Channel to raise $33,000 ($1000 for each km of the journey) for the Family Resource Centre at the new Montreal Children's Hospital.
After months of open-water training, Clack will leave Shakespeare Beach in Dover on September 6 for the grueling 33-kilometer crossing to Cap Gris Nez in France. Navigating one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, he will battle strong tides, choppy seas, cool water and jellyfish.
"The Channel swim is one of the toughest in the world," he says. "It takes physical and mental stamina. Fewer people have swum the English Channel than have climbed Everest."
Clack hopes that his Channel crossing will inspire others to join him in supporting the young patients and families at The Children's, many of whom face their own overwhelming challenges.
"There is no worse feeling than the feeling of helplessness a parent can experience when their child is hospitalized. The Family Resource Centre provides information and resources to parents so they may better understand their child's condition and participate in their care. It relieves them from that feeling of helplessness. To me, there is no greater gift."
About the Family Resource Centre at the new Montreal Children's Hospital:
Located near the main entrance of the new Children's the new Family Resource Centre will be larger and more accessible. It will feature a business centre to permit parents to catch up on work, with printing, faxing and Wi-Fi, a resource library and a conference room to house meetings between families and caring staff, and for support group meetings.
About The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
The Montreal Children's Hospital is the pediatric teaching hospital of the McGill University Health Centre. The Children's is a leader in providing a broad spectrum of highly specialized care to newborns, children, and adolescents from all across Quebec. The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation is currently completing The Best Care for Children Campaign to support the construction of the new Montreal Children's Hospital on the Glen site, which is expected to open its doors in 2015.
SOURCE: The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
or to set up an interview with Alan Clack, please contact:
Luke Quin,
Assistant Director of Communications
The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
514-934-4846 x 29225
[email protected]
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