Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Kaise Stephan, who lives in Abbotsbury in the electorate of Fowler, will set out in July to swim the English Channel, something that a number of Australians have attempted and some have succeeded in. For some, the motivation for the swim has been like that of a mountain climber: because it is there. But for this remarkable young man there is a far greater purpose. Two years ago, Kaise’s cousin Mark was diagnosed with leukaemia and entered the Westmead Children’s Hospital. In his frequent visits Kaise was moved by the suffering and courage of his cousin and other patients in the oncology unit at the children’s hospital. This gave Kaise the drive to raise funds for children’s cancer research but also to take on a task almost as big as beating cancer: swimming the English Channel.

In training, Kaise has swum the equivalent of the distance from Sydney to Perth and has raised almost $100,000 for cancer research. Today, thanks to his treatment, Mark is showing a full recovery and will be waiting on the French side of the channel to greet his cousin. On behalf of the people of Fowler, I wish Kaise Stephan fair weather for his swim and thank him for his inspiration to all Australians.