Man to swim around island for paralysis charity

By Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin

More than a decade after he was nearly killed by a boater, 47-year-old Trent Theroux of Barrington, is swimming around Aquidneck Island to raise money for the nonprofit, Rise Above Paralysis.

The journey is 40 miles, and Theroux said he hopes to keep his time between 18 and 20 hours.  He dives in on September 26th to begin the venture he calls, “Back to Newport."

“I’ll probably have 7 to 9 miles, where I will be directly into the current,” said Theroux. 

In 2002, Theroux nearly died when he was hit by a boater while kayaking.  He was paralyzed from the waist down, and left with severed back muscles, as well as damage to 5 bones in his spinal column.  Now he swims with the goal of raising $50,000 for Rise Above Paralysis – a non–profit helping those affected by spinal chord injuries.

Theroux has a history of longer swims.  He swam 13 miles from Point Judith to Block Island, in 2012.  "When you have a spinal chord injury, your life isn’t over, just changed,” he said.

Theroux added that he believes his biggest challenges will include swimming nearly 10 miles against the current, and hunger.  He estimated he’ll consume 10,000  calories, on the journey.

"What I need is someone who works for Dale Earnhardt Junior… the guys that put the gas in the tanks for like 3 seconds. And I need people to put food into me that fast."

He said he’ll continue to swim and lift weights, 5 days a week, until the big day.

For more information about joining Theroux on his swim, or donating:   https://backtonewport.org/campaigns/81