2008 COLE CLASSIC @ MANLY

English Channel Swimmer at the Cole Classic

January 31, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Among the swimmers entered in the Cole Classic 10km race this Sunday is Kaise Stephan - an ordinary bloke who is embarking on an extraordinary challenge.

For Kaise, the 10 kilometre Cole Classic is a key event in a two year training programme that will culminate in him taking on the gruelling English Channel crossing in July this year.

Since February 2006, Kaise has committed to a strict training regime averaging 40 kilometres of swimming every week. To date, Kaise has swum some 3500km which is 85% of the distance from Sydney to Perth or 12 times the distance between Sydney and Canberra.

Behind the very big work out is a desire to raise substantial funds for childhood cancer with The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Kaise was inspired to take on the Channel after experiencing first hand his 13-year-old cousin's fight back from leukaemia which involved exhausting chemotherapy treatment and painful bone marrow transplant.

If you'd like to show support for Kaise's cause and donate to the Children's Hospital at Westmead visit www.channelcrossingforlife.com for details.