Man Who Swam Lake Ontario To Raise Money For Asperger’s Is Released From Hospital
Posted August 1, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After completing one of the biggest challenges he could have taken on, the man who swam Lake Ontario was too sick to bask in his accomplishment.
But two days after he finished the tremendous feat Jay Serdula emerged from the hospital, cured of his hypothermia, and he had lots to say.
He maintains quitting was never an option for him.
“The last two years of my life have revolved around this swim, so it would be a shame not to finish it, at least not without trying everything I possibly could, and once you’re so close to finishing you think just a little bit more. Just a little bit more.”
Serdula suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism. He’s been training for two years to make the swim in hopes of raising awareness and funds for A.S., and plans to use is his newfound notoriety to continue the campaign in coming years.
He says he hopes his efforts improve the diagnostic process, so kids won’t have to endure the difficulties he faced growing up. He was diagnosed ten years ago.
The trip took 41 hours; Serdula set off from Niagara-on-the-Lake at 10am Monday and reached the seawall at Marilyn Bell Park just after 3am Wednesday.
The donation drive will continue into August.
If you’d like to donate, go to http://www.kerrysplace.com/.
To find out more about Asperger’s Syndrome, click here.
