 marathon swim challenge set for early Saturday and Sunday.){kind=link}
9th November 2024 – (Hong Kong) On a Wednesday night in October, a group of 8 corporate executives shed their suits and took a plunge into the waters of Repulse Bay on Hong Kong Island, seeking respite from their demanding schedules. However, even experienced swimmers with two headlights found themselves disoriented in the murky depths.
Despite the challenges, Dario Pong and his fellow swimmers are determined to push through their fears. They are preparing for an unprecedented 80-kilometre (50-mile) marathon swim challenge set for early Saturday and Sunday.
The eight swimmers will embark on a 45-kilometre journey around Hong Kong Island on the first day to raise funds for the Nature Conservancy’s oyster restoration programme, aimed at improving marine water quality. On the second day, they will swim an additional 35 kilometres from Hoi Ha Wan to Clear Water Bay Beach.
So far, the challenge has raised over HK$1 million. Participants include Andrés Tung, Carmelo Ficarra, Dario Pong, Donal O’Neil, Douglas Woo, Jonathan Lo, Ryan Leung, and Thomas Launay, all of whom have undergone extensive training to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared to tackle the rigours of the sea.
Douglas Woo, chairman of Wheelock and Company, stated, “Protecting the ocean is a global imperative, and it is also the driving force behind our determination to take on this challenge.”
Donations to support the “80-kilometre Marathon Swim Challenge” are welcomed. Interested contributors can use the following details:
Faster Payment System ID: 102517950
Account Name: The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong Foundation Limited
*Please include the donation code “#80kmswim” in the remarks section.