Para Swimming in Rio and Beyond

I am Danial Murphy. Born and raised in Bedford, Nova Scotia. It is believed that I had a stroke before birth so consequently I have Cerebral Palsy. Doctors describe my condition as right sided hempalegic, so I have a limp and basically no use of my right arm. As a child my parents kept me physically active. We tried horseback riding, skating and even downhill skiing, (that could have ended badly). At age 8 I started swimming for a local summer swim team known as the Bedford Beavers. At that time Para Swimming for competative disabled swimmers was not readily available. At age twelve I met Kevin Ross. Kevin was a career swim coach with 40 plus years of coaching experience. Fortunately, he did have some experience coaching and training swimmers with physical disabilities. I joined his swim team which was entirely able bodied . The Sackville Waves Aquatic Team was where I started training and competing year round. By 2005 at age 16 I attended my first major competition and was classified by The International Paralympic Committee as an S5 swimmer. Since then Kevin Ross and I have represented Canada and  competed at 4 Para World Championships, 2 Para Pan Pacific Championships, 2015 Para Pan Am Games and countless other National and International competitions. Two days ago I was nominated and selected to compete at Rio2016  for Team Canada.   




I am raising money to support my coach Kevin Ross and his travel to Rio and our training together beyond Rio. My addition to Team Canada was last minute and Coach Kevin is not on the Team Canada coaching staff for Rio 2016. After almost 15 years together he simply must go to Rio. Kevin has made a lifetime committment and passed literally thousands of swimmers through his programs. Always, committed to the journey. Without the benefit of planning we did not prepare
it is impossible to support his travel to the Rio 2016 games. Any funds in excess of what is needed for Rio will be used to assist future swimming related coaching travel for other athletes and coaches.

I have already joined Team Canada in Toronto for final staging and departure to Rio within a few days. Coach Kevin would like to travel by September 5, 2016 as the the Rio 2016 games start on Sept. 7, 2016.  Funding is critical and needed over the week or so if we can make this work.

This means everything to me. Without Kevin Ross I would not have the life I have today. Additionally, Kevin has a lifetime of dedicated community service. Swim coaches are not usually rewarded with riches.

I believe that Kevin will have several more years where he can still be a big contributor to Para Swimming. I would enjoy seeing other physically disabled getting into swimming programs in our communities. Beyond Rio I will happily assist Coach Kevin with all his future endeavours.