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My name is Jacobo Parages.
I'm from Madrid. And at 46 years of age,
I'm taking on what is probably the biggest challenge of my life.
The challenge is crossing the strait of Gibraltar, from Tarifa to Morocco.
There will be from 15 to 25 km.
depending on the currents and the weather on the day I swim.
The most important part is being able to help the kids
and the Down Syndrome Foundation.
This challenge goes back a few years,
to the moment I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis,
a disease I've suffered for almost 18 years.
And that has made me take on important challenges, this being the latest.
Thankfully my spondylitis is in order and training helps me a lot.
Without the Foundation this challenge wouldn't mean as much.
At the Foundation there are kids who swim really well
and I would have loved to take them with me during the whole challenge,
but it can't be.
I do have the full support and hopes of these kids
with whom I've trained in the pool and who love the idea.
For me it's an honour and a great satisfaction
being able to share this challenge with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Madrid.
And I'm sure that thanks to the support of so many people, the Foundation,
my coach and so many others I'll be able to cross the strait.
The challenge consists in plunging into the water at Tarifa
and swimming tree, four, five hours. It'll probably be closer to five.
And reaching the first possible landing place on the coast of Tangier.
The drive behind this challenge is not only my own self-improvement
due to my illness, but also the hopes of these Down Syndrome kids
and the support the Foundation gives them.
And to do everything you can to help them and their integration.
In this case its through sport, but also through other walks of life.
This challenge consists in crossing the strait of Gibraltar
starting in Tarifa and reaching the first possible landing point in Tangier.
In a straight line and with good weather
it would mean swimming 15 km.
But it's really hard to do in 15 km. due to the strong currents in the strait.
And the undertow. So it's usually around 20 km.
20, 22, 18 with some luck.
Each day...
Each day I train, every step further, every 5.000 metres of trainning,
are one stroke further to meeting this challenge.
With everybody's help, Morocco is closer.
This isn't just a sport challenge,
it's an especially important human challenge for me
and I feel other people can feel this solidarity and participate in the challenge
and doing so get to know the Foundation better
and the kids with Down Syndrome, who are the final goal.
WHERE DO DREAMS DIE?
IN A PLACE CALLED FEAR
IF YOUR BUSINESS WISHES TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH CONTACTA@DOWNMADRID.ORG
- (WWW.DOWNMADRID.ORG)
IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT PERSONALLY YOU CAN DO IT AT WWW.1KM1SONRISA.ORG
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT