Captain Barnacles Swim Challenge For Sick Kids

Last month Russell Hodge aka Captain Barnacles, completed the Starlight Chil­dren’s Foundation February Swim Chal­lenge, swimming an impressive 36km, which equates to 1,440 laps of the Canow­indra Pool, and raising $2,551 for sick kids along the way.

Funds raised from the swim challenge will support Starlight’s work in visiting, en­tertaining, supporting and helping sick kids and their families through their ordeals and challenges while in hospital.

“Knowing a bit about being in hospital and knowing families supported by Star­light myself, I took the plunge and signed up,” said Russell.

This was Russell’s first time engaging in a fundraising challenge and he set himself the challenge to raise $1,000 by swimming 32km throughout the month of February – a goal he clearly blew out of the water!”I wasn’t sure how I would go or if people would respond by making donations to the cause,” said Russell.

However, he need not have been con­cerned, with 38 people contributing to the cause including a mix of locals, friends from elsewhere and complete strangers.

“Thank you to all who splashed their cash into this endeavour and cause. There is also the great pool swim community who encouraged me along the way and my pool swimming buddies who made it possible.

“And of course, my wonderful wife Sue, who had to listen to me report my swim­ming goal updates on an almost daily ba­sis,” concluded Russell.

If you meant to dip in but didn’t and would still like to make a donation, visit Russell’s fundraising page: https://superswim.org.au/r-hodge.