On May 29 2016, two of Sydney and Melbourne’s best known financial services executives will risk their lives as they paddle across the 52km open ocean channel crossing known as the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge.
Earl Evans, Head of Wealth Management at Shaw and Partners and Mal Cameron, Head of Shaw and Partners in Victoria are tackling the crossing, known as the “Channel of Bones”, to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Their fundraising goal is a massive $100,000 and the men are confident of hitting that goal and making a significant difference to the lives of thousands of kids and parents who live with juvenile diabetes every day.
Fortunately for their valued clients, Earl and Mal will not be attempting this feat on their own. Two former Ironmen and members of the North Bondi Surf Club, Luke Horder and Matt Jenkins will join them, in double surf skis.
Both men have been training for the event for several months by paddling; Earl both within and outside Sydney Harbour and Mal at Torquay, in the bay and in the Yarra, as well as gym/pool work.
Earl Evans said he wanted to shed a few of his corporate kilos, deciding late last year that he needed to get fit. Through Shaw and Partners’ sponsorship of the North Bondi Surf Club he convinced Luke Horder to be his personal trainer.
“One day I saw people paddling and I said I thought it would be fun to have a crack at it. One thing led to another and we are now taking on one of the biggest challenges in open ocean paddling,” he said.
Mal Cameron has paddled before, but never taken on something as challenging as this. His biggest previous challenge was crossing the Himalayas, but that was on a motorbike, so he was kind of cheating!
“I haven’t ever really done something this grueling before. Some days Port Phillip Bay is like a washing machine, so I hope I am getting valuable experience out there that will serve me well in the middle of the Pacific,” Mal said.
Earl Evans said the most he has ever previously stretched himself in terms of physical activity for fundraising was putting his hand in his pocket and pulling out his wallet.
“I turned 50 recently and I realised that I had never done anything really physically challenging.
Throughout my career I have watched my colleagues raise money for charity by cycling up some of the hardest mountains you can find, or by running five marathons in three weeks.
“I have always supported them, but I have never actually done it myself. This is proving to be one of the hardest things I have ever done and I have been training the house down. The three-hour paddle sessions and the four-kilometre pool swims are absolutely killing me. I am on a very steep learning curve. Surf Skis are not the easiest things to balance on, let alone paddle 52 km in the ocean.”
Earl Evans said the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a terrific charity, one which both he and Mal have had a lot to do with in the past.
“Juvenile Diabetes is such an insidious disease for young children to deal with, so paddling for this cause is phenomenal motivation. It means a lot to us to be able to support people who are doing such a good job.
Shaw and Partners CEO Allan Zion said it was rare to have two of his most senior executives risking their lives to raise money for charity.
“Shaw and Partners are very pleased to be able to support both of them in any way we can in this momentous effort, I just hope we get them both back in one piece,” Mr Zion said.
“Along with the support of Shaw and Partners and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Hawaiian Airlines and St George Bank are also getting right behind us and helping us raise money for this brilliant cause.
“I know we will get very close to the $100,000 target – then all Mal and I have to do is get across that Channel of Bones in one piece and we can celebrate with a beer, or five,” Earl said.
