JACK’S SUPER SWIM

A dedicated Pilbara teenager has successfully completed a challenge to swim 32 km over 30 days in a bid to raise money for children and families affected by serious illness.

Jack Turco, 13, from Wickham, smashed his initial goal of $500, raising a total of $655 in the Starlight Foundation Super Swim. Jack said when he was six years old, his good friend died from cancer, so he wanted to raise money for an organisation that supported sick children.

“It feels really good,” he said.

“I am really happy with everyone who donated. It’s for children, helping them make a wish.”

Jack said he received a lot of support from the community when completing the challenge.

“My friend came down and did some laps with me — he probably did about a quarter of the laps with me,” he said.

“Mum came down too and she posted it on the local page to get fundraising. It was just a good way to keep in shape during the off-season too.”

Jack’s mother Vanessa Turco said she was very proud of her son.

“He’s definitely a higher achiever,” she said.

“He had a target each day to reach, so some days he did double or triple and then he had a day of rest, so it was good planning from him.

Mrs Turco said she hoped more people could get involved with the initiative next year.

“He just really enjoyed it and loves swimming,” she said.

“I reckon that he would probably do it again and probably try and get a whole team involved and make it a community event.

“It gives the sick children something to wake up to everyday.”