The Swim Challenge Phuket will see former U.S. Marine Todd swim the approximately 140-kilometre distance around the island over the course of 14 days between Jan 20 to Feb 3, 2024.
The challenge encourages community engagement, raises awareness and provides significant support for the Save a Child Swim Program, a Rotary Club of Patong sponsored life saving initiative which helps children learn to swim and be safe in the water.
Todd has challenged people to join him on his historic swim by joining him in the water, for just a couple of metres or an entire leg of the challenge, although only strong swimmers will be permitted to undertake the latter category with a detailed safety breifing for all participants in advance.
The opportunity to join is open for the entire challenge aside from three sections that will only be undertaken by Todd and representatives from the Thai Marine Police, for safety reasons, while all other legs will be comprehensively relayed via live feeds across popular social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
The project also offers a range of engaging partnership, sponsorship and brand recognition opportunities so businesses can align with the cause, such as breakfast and brunch launches, dinner parties and luxury yacht cruises featuring themed parties. There will also be a beach party on Coconut Island with the option to stay overnight at the resort.
A target of B3.5 million has been set and all proceeds raised will go towards the very worthy charity although Todd very much hopes his efforts can exceed this, saying “there is no cap on funding hope.”
The project will partner with local and international schools in Phuket to engage children in a range of different ways and on 10 of the 14 days of the challenge Todd will launch each day with the help and involvement of students from local area schools from around the island.
The challenge will start at 11am on Jan 20 at the Wave Beach Bar at Bangtao Beach and is scheduled to conclude on Feb 3 back at the same location after a lap of approximately 140km around the island. Upon conclusion, a ‘block party’ invloving local establishments such as The Tiki Hut, The Wave Beach Bar, Beach Pig, The Golden Fish Restaurant and The Local Beach Bar will held in celebration of the feat, with a portion of funds raised going to the charity.
Additional initiatives to help raise funds include children’s art projects, the sale of commemorative tee-shirts and items personally autographed by Todd and a silent auction of souvenirs and goods from local business vendors, with all proceeds going directly to the charity.
More information on the swim and how to get involved and donate can be found here.
Alternatively contact Todd at swimphuket@gmail.com, on WhatsApp at +1 406 696 0883, and LINE at Movies13, or Frank Walbaum frank@fxstrategies.asia, +65 9447 3234 (WhatsApp) or LINE jungleman80.