Dozens turned out to cheer on the 15-year-old in his quest to raise money for Forever Projects, a charity providing support to families of malnourished babies in Tanzania, allowing them to lift themselves out of poverty.

The original target was to raise $1000.

“I’m stoked. I’m super happy we’ve raised four times as much,” Brendan said.

“It was heaps good, and was pretty good the amount of people who turned up and brought signs.”

His mum Amanda said surprised many spectators by powering through the feat in two hours and 10 minutes, the last 50 metres finished in butterfly stroke (see video).

“I am absolutey blown away, he just put in a huge effort,” Mrs Eastman said.

“He didn’t do it for him, he did it to help others.”

Founded by Cordeaux Heights couple Anna and Mark Dombkins, Forever Projects aims to raise $30,000 to replace the aged safari vehicle its Tanzanian team use to visit families in remote communities and deliver critical items.

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.

Read more: Shoes and stories of shoes on exhibition to bring Illawarra together for Refugee Week