Cochrane athlete, Jack Dunse, is looking for support from the community as he plans to tread international waters with Team Canada at the 2024 Orange Cup.
The competition will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands from Dec. 7 to 9. The annual event hosts different nations to compete in an international-caliber lifesaving sport championship event.
Dunse, a Cochrane Water Ninja, was selected to be part of 12 athletes representing Canada. Compared to traditional swimming, he explained that the races have the additional edge of simulating different rescue scenarios.
“It’s one of the only sports where it’s a skill before it’s a sport,” Dunse explained. “So, we have to be good at saving lives, and we have to be good at helping people before we can just be fast.”
Currently, Dunse said he has a GoFundMe to help raise money to send him and his parents over to the competition. He outlines that all expenses will be dedicated to be used for travel and accommodation over the duration of the competition.
He is also looking for advice from community members on sponsorship deals, as he is currently working with companies to try and figure things out.
“So, it there’s anybody reading who has any kind of ability to speak with me on that, that’s another possibility,” he said.
With the competition set for December, Dunse said that he knows that the competition will be tough, but he intends to do his best to represent Canada.
“I’ve been to nationals three times, and last year I was part of Team Canada that went to the Commonwealth for Lifesaving Sport,” he said. “So, I’m hoping that this becomes the norm, but I’m definitely more experienced ... I’m doing my best to stay in the water as often as I can.”
As a recent graduate from Cochrane High School, Dunse plans to give it his all as he prepares for the upcoming competition. With regular pool maintenance for Cochrane set for September, he said it will cause a little hiccup in his training, but that won’t stop him from giving it his all.
“I’m super excited for the opportunity,” he said. “We have two whole months with my team to train all the time, I’ll get a lot of help from the coaches on Team Canada, and then from my own coaches back in Cochrane.
“I’m excited, I’m feeling really good, and I’m excited to go.”
In closing, Dunse said he would like to give a special thanks to his fellow Water Ninjas Oli and Issac who are getting ready to compete at the LifeSaving World Championships 2024 in Australia from Aug. 20 to Sept. 8.
A livestream of the LifeSaving World Championships 2024 can be found by visiting www.youtube.com/@2024lwc.
“So, if there’s any big shoutouts I can give right now, I think it would probably be to them,” he said. “Just go and show your support for those guys, because they’re already competing down there.
For those looking to donate to Dunse's GoFundMe, it can be found by visiting www.gofundme.com/f/competing-in-the-netherlands
