by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
Ben Lecomte is a French born long distance swimmer, who in 1998 became the first person to swim cross the Atlantic Ocean without a kickboard.
The swim was undertaken to raise funds for cancer research as a tribute to his father.
After years of planning his next swim, Lecomte is set to swim the Pacific Ocean, in an environmental building mission called ‘The Longest Swim’.
It’s all raise awareness on environmental issues affecting many Pacific Island nations.
The swim mission will begin from Tokyo, and head to San Francisco, taking six months.
During this journey, Lecomte will be acoompanied by the historical boat ‘Rolano’.
Others include ‘Rolano’s six crew members, publicists and managers on land, and scientists at several American Institutions, including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, who will collect data during the journey.
While there is an increasing fear of shark attacks, Lecomte is counting days to start another lifetime swim journey in the Pacific Ocean.
Japan Current funds the environmental building mission, and a portion of the funds raised will be given to The Climate Group.
