Student Spotlight

Matthew Parker, from WA class 4B, is about to participate in a historic open water swim that has never been done before. The aim is to raise awareness of, and funds for, dyslexia. And, of course, have the character-building experience of a lifetime!

Matthew is one of a group of ten brave children who are going to swim a 30 mile ocean relay, that will take between fifteen and twenty hours to complete!  The swim will take place between one and three miles offshore Galveston, over the weekend of 20th/21st May.

This swim is a far greater feat than Matthew’s previous swim for dyslexia.  The children will be much farther out in open ocean, and the distance and duration of the swim are far longer. Also, for this swim to be recognized as historic, the swimmers will swim alone in the water.

At nine years old, Matthew is the youngest member of the team, which includes ages ranging up to an eighteen year old award winning triathlete. Though not dyslexic, Matthew's motivation for doing this is to raise awareness of dyslexia, and support his good friend, Lucca, who is dyslexic and who will also be participating in this event.

The team was recently featured on Great Day Houston, and support is growing for this event. It has taken lots of teamwork and effort to make this happen, including four volunteer channel swimmers, the donation of a yacht from Houston Sail & Power Squad, the guidance of Galveston Beach Patrol, and the assistance of the Coast Guard.

Matthew and the other children have shown a lot of grit and determination in their training for and commitment to this Galveston fundraising swim. Well done, Matthew!