Thursday, August 6, 2009

Franklin Park Man to Swim Alcatraz for Charity






For Immediate Release, July 29, 2009

Pittsburgh, PA (Contact: Andre Weisbrod 412-491-1963)
Franklin Park, PA resident Andre Weisbrod has chosen an unusual way to celebrate surviving 60 years on the planet and raise some money for charity at the same time. On August 15th he will join 800 swimmers from around the world who will take a free trip by ferry to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. The catch? They have to swim back to San Francisco!

The annual 1.5 mile "Sharkfest Swim" event requires swimmers to brave current and sometimes choppy water that can be around 58 degrees. Weisbrod has two goals. First he wants to finish in the top three of his age group. Second he has dedicated his swim to support a favorite charity. Donors have pledged an amount based on his finishing the race and many will double their donations if he finishes in the top three of his age group. So far he has pledges of over $3,700 and he is hoping to raise $5,000 or more.

Weisbrod, who is President and CEO of STAAR Financial Advisors and founder of the STAAR Funds is not a stranger to this cold water swim, having completed the course in just over 35 minutes and finishing third in his age group four years ago. He is a long-time masters swimmer and has been training at the Baierl YMCA and North Park pools.

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