Blind marathon swimmer James Pittar has dedicated his passion to restoring sight to the needlessly blind. He has just swum 150 kilometres and raised much needed funds for the Fred Hollows Foundation.
“Life is fun”, says North Balgowlah local James Pittar in a joyful tone. “And you have to go there, enjoy what you love, and do things with your family and friends.”
Legally blind since the age of 21, James lives life with the optimism and a fierce determination that has led him to fulfil all the goals he has set for himself. An inner strength that not only helped him overcome daily life challenges, like becoming a father or having a full-time job, but also became one of the greatest athletes in Australia and an inspiration for open water swimmers around the globe.
In 1985, at just 16, James was diagnosed with an eye disease known as retinitis pigmentosa, which destroys the retina at the back part of the eye.
“It happened fairly quickly,” James explains. “I realised that it would be a big change in my life and that I had to accept it.
James Pittar in 2011 after taking part in a swim off Sydney’s Northern Beaches from Collaroy to North Steyne Beach.
“My parents always told me, ‘If you have an opportunity, always do your best to take it because it may not come up again.” Blind marathon swimmer, James Pittar
“I could do either two things: sit there and think, ‘I can’t do anything,’ or I could go out there and try and do things I wanted to do.”
And that is what he did. With the support of friends and family, he was confident that he could do anything. He got a job, and he got involved in swimming. In 1991, he set the first big goal of his career: to swim the English Channel. It took James eight years to achieve his dream, and in 1998, he became the first blind swimmer in the world to cross the English Channel.
The 14-hour swim from England to France has been one of his most significant accomplishments, physically and mentally, as he swam guided by his team through the currents and tides of the channel.
“I was the twenty-third Australian to do it. Now there are about 320 that have done it. The hardest thing for me on the day was that I had to be directed. Your mind is focused on doing things correctly for the swim And then, when I finished, I thought, ‘Did I swim this far? I’ve done it!” James remembers.
Inspired by his experience on the channel, James started giving motivational speeches and fundraising for different charities. One of them is the Fred Hollows Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and treating people with avoidable blindness in over 25 countries.
In August this year, James set himself a goal to swim 150 kilometres and raise $15,000 for the Fred Hollows Foundation during Fred’s Big Run.
“It’s a great challenge to give people their eyesight back. With just $25, you can cure someone’s eyesight in a developing country. That’s why I love doing it. I can’t regain my eyesight. But for me to be able to give someone that opportunity is magnificent,” James explains.
James says anyone can achieve their goals if they are determined to do so, no matter their age or circumstances.
“My parents always told me, ‘If you have an opportunity, always do your best to take it because it may not come up again’. I was lucky to have the opportunity to swim from Russia to America, travel the world and meet amazing people.”
To donate to James’ effort, go to his GoFundMe page here: https://www.fredsbigrun.org/fundraisers/jamespittar.