Swimming for orphans
Adam Brisson was six months old when he was adopted by Charlie and Ricky Brisson…and he will celebrate his 30th birthday by swimming 30kms to raise $30,000 for the orphanage in which his spent the first six months of his life.
Adam Brisson with children at the orphanage
He spent the first six months of his life in the Carlos de Villegas orphanage in La Paz, Bolivia which he has visited twice since becoming a Sydneysider.
Seeing the plight of the 130 children aged from 0-19 currently living in the orphanage, Brisson decided that for his 30th birthday he would raise funds rather than receive gifts for himself and he plans to deliver the money to the orphanage personally.
Brisson will take to the water at Sydney’s Botany Aquatic Centre this Sunday and will be supported by his close friend Gittel Mueller.
He told J-Wire: “I expect the swim to take close to twelve hours and I will begin as soon as the pool opens at 7am.”
Swimming is no stranger to the jewellery designer from Bellevue Hill. He was a member of the Maccabiah team which lost four of it members in the tragic bridge collapse in 1997. He said: “I thought my brother was in the water and the IDF had to hold me back when I tried to get into the river for a second time to find him…but he was OK.”
Bolivia is currently not participating in adoption plans but Brisson said: “Even if I am fortunate enough to have natural children of my own, I would still like to be able to offer a South American child the opportunities that were given to me…and Colombia is till a participating country.”
Brisson, who spent his school years at Moriah College, needs all the sponsorship help he can get.
He added: “After returning to the orphanage in ’97, and seeing the plight of the kids living in the home, I have felt a much stronger connection to adoption and doing what I can to give back, although the challenge will be tough my passion for these kids will get me through the tough parts.”
Readers can support Adam Brisson’s 30th birthday venture by donating online at http://www.givenow.com.au/auscaringforchildrenthree30s
