Berkeley teenager Brendan Eastman has never swum 10 kilometres without stopping, but with a charity donation at stake, the feat appears in good hands.
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Brendan, captain of Wests Illawarra Aquatic Swim Club, is among dozens in the Illawarra whose goodwill has been captured by a home-grown charity that asks a simple question of its supporters: what can you do with what’s in your hands?
On Friday, 15-year-old Brendan will attempt to swim 10kms worth of laps, after collecting more than $1000 in fundraising pledges.
The money will go towards the recently registered charity Forever Projects, which provides support to families of malnourished babies in Tanzania, allowing them to lift themselves out of poverty.
“I guess it doesn’t really matter how far it is - as long as I’m raising money to help others, that’s the main thing,” Brendan said.
“I just love to help others. I thought if I could use something that I’m good at to do that, that would be good.”
Forever Projects is aiming to raise $30,000 to replace the aged safari vehicle its Tanzanian team uses to visit families in remote communities and deliver items that are critical to getting their businesses off the ground.
The Illawarra formed a lasting tie with the Tanzanian effort via Cordeaux Heights couple Anna and Mark Dombkins, who adopted three of their six children from a Tanzanian children’s home called Forever Angels in 2010.
Mr Dombkins, a teacher at Illawarra Christian School, enlisted his church and school communities for Forever Projects’ early fundraising efforts, but says the charity’s reach is growing.
“We’re trying to encourage the community in Wollongong to think about what they’re good at, and what they’re doing, and how they can use that for a cause,” he said. “It’s been really inspiring to see the number of different people coming forward and coming up with ideas.”
One athletic supporter recently ran a fundraising half-marathon, another – a small business owner – sold gift cards. Operators of Wollongong restaurant Kneading Ruby passed on proceeds from a purpose-made cocktail while artistic supporters have gone busking and hosted talent shows exhibitions.
With $10,000 still to raise, a couple from the Dombkins’ church has agreed to match the remaining contributions dollar for dollar.
“They said ‘we’re just getting so much value out of seeing people come forward to this campaign’,” Mr Dombkins said.
Brendan will attempt his mammoth swim at McKeon’s Swim School in Unanderra on Friday, from 5pm. Visit foreverprojects.com.au for more information.