Swimming to change son’s life

Choppy conditions didn't stop a Papamoa father swimming from Motiti Island to Maketu to help raise money for his son James.

James Reid is a five-year-old boy with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, epilepsy and hydrocephalus – or a blockage to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.


Don with his son James and wife Sonja. Photos: Tracy Hardy.


The Reid family with swimmers and other supporters.

The Reid family need to raise $150,000 for a life-changing surgery surgeon David Yngve has agreed to perform. The surgery will relieve the spasticity or high tone in James' muscles.

Through their Give a Little page the family have raised $19,455.

To add to that total, Don and 15 other swimmers, including All Black, Cheifs and Steamers rugby players, took to the water to swim 12.5km from Motiti Island to Maketu.

Don arrived at Maketu in four hours and 15 minutes.

Speaking to SunLive after his swim, Don Reid says the conditions were 'quite hideous at the start” but flattened out as they got closer to the shore.

'I was thinking about all sorts of different stuff really to try and keep my mind occupied and off the distance I had to swim.

'Did a lot of focusing on my stroke, felt pretty confident the whole way. I did get a bit tired and cramp in my calf muscles half way, which made it a bit interesting.”

Don says it was awesome to see his family when he emerged from the water.

'It was pretty emotional.”

There was 38 people in total to joined Don on the water, including coaches, with about 15 swimmers swimming alongside him.

'It's unbelievable really. For the Chiefs and the All Blacks to come and jump in the water out there, it's not easy,” says Don.

'You get out there and it's pretty deep, dark, choppy conditions – so if you're not used to something like that it is pretty daunting. It was a big effort on their behalf.”

The Maketu Surf Club, the Maketu Sea Rescue and Maketu Coastguard have done an awesome job in helping out with the day and Don says there's more people to thank.

All Black, Chief and Bay of Plenty Steamers rugby player Nathan Harris, who considers James a cousin or nephew, says the swim was 'pretty good”.

'Those individuals did an amazing job, four of them busted out 12.5km. I take my hat off to them. It was tough conditions to the start.

'I did about 30 minutes. We did about 30 to 40 minutes between us.” Nathan was a group of about five people.

'We saw a couple of dolphins during the swim, when times start getting tough you got to think of James and what he and his family have been through.

'It's a great cause to get behind and I take my hat off to his dad, he has pulled it out,” says Nathan.

'He [James] is just an awesome kid. We just want to give him the best in life.”

Hear more about James' story here.


A big turn out at the Maketu Surf Club.


Don emerging from the water.


Nathan Harris arriving in Maketu.


James enjoying a cupcake.


Whakanuia Maketu performing a kapa haka.


Chiefs players emerging from the water.

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.