Firefighter Takes To The Water For Sick Kids
Posted August 16, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Firefighter Shaun Chisholm pulled off an incredible feat Saturday providing a bright spot at the end of what’s been a devastating week for members of Toronto Fire Services.
The 40-year-old completed a swim across Lake Ontario late Saturday morning braving the cool and choppy waters overnight.
The impressive show of athleticism makes Chisholm the second-oldest person to swim the Great Lake, but the firefighter said he had incredible inspiration for pulling himself through the water. He started in Niagara-on-the-Lake Friday and climbed onto the shore at Marilyn Bell Park 19 hours later.
Chisholm’s swim raised $20,000 for the Hospital for Sick Children’s Burn Unit.
“I’ve always wanted to do some sort of thing to raise money,” the exhausted firefighter and former triathlete said following his swim.
“It’s been rough for us,” he added, referring to the death of Toronto Fire District Chief Bob Leek, who was killed on the job at the Sunrise Propane explosions Sunday.
“This is good, on a high note.”
Chisholm trained for a year to prepare for this swim and his family couldn’t have been more proud.
“He just motored right through and I’m very proud of him,” his father Tony said.
Click here to find out how you can donate to the Sick Kids’ Burn Unit.
