San Diego’s Blair Cannon completed a fast 8 hour 18 minute Catalina Channel swim, the 7th fastest crossing of all time. He definitely did not want to waste any time as he was raising money for the Monarch School and the Great Friends Foundation. Blair is a San Diego-based philanthropist and vice president of Bernstein Global Wealth Management.
His swim – labeled as the Cannon Catalina Challenge – raised US$10,000 per mile to benefit the annual fund of Monarch School, the San Diego-based school for children impacted by homelessness, and the Great Friends Foundation Scholarship Program for children of the military in San Diego.
“Blair is truly dedicated to this swim,” said his coach Anne Cleveland.
“His determination is a testament that, just like him, the children of Monarch School and the Great Friends Foundation can do anything if they work hard enough.”
“The children at Monarch and those supported by the Great Friends Foundation face so many challenges,” explained Blair. “I wanted to do this because I know these kids have felt cold or hungry or scared before, yet they are going to school and working to improve their lives. They inspire me, and this is a chance for me to do the same for them. I want them to see that any goal is possible if you work hard enough.”
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.