Will Dodge Jellyfish for Money

Timothy Haslach braves the English Channel for charity

Published in 2007 Oregon Super Lawyers magazine

By Cliff Collins on November 9, 2007

Share:
Some lawyers golf, some cycle, others hike. Timothy F. Haslach swims the English Channel.

 
In July 2001, Haslach volunteered with 11 other Oregon swimmers to form two relay teams that crossed the chilly, unpredictable 21-mile stretch of salt water between England and France.
 
The Channel Swimming Association dictates what channel crossers can and cannot do. And it doesn’t permit wet suits or speed suits, “just a Speedo, cap and goggles, plus some grease where we were likely to chafe from the salt water,” says Haslach, 46, an intellectual property and corporate attorney at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Portland. He chairs the technology trade association and industry initiatives team, traveling frequently to help set up and maintain technology-related trade associations. 
 
Haslach was a high school All-American swimmer, but he was used to racing 50 to 100 meters, not swimming a body of water between two countries. He did it to raise money for the Karen Gaffney Foundation and increase awareness about the potential of people with Down syndrome. For Gaffney, 23, born with Down syndrome, her hip dislocation makes swimming less difficult than walking. She and the two teams made the crossing in just over 14 hours. 
 
“The water was about 58 [degrees], which is cold, but we trained in much colder water in San Francisco Bay,” says Haslach. “It was probably the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done in my life.” The team had to dodge seasickness, jellyfish, kelp beds and giant vessels, one of which was a Russian freighter that, at one point, was headed directly for Haslach’s wife, Kathryn. Maritime officers contacted the ship in the nick of time.

Search attorney feature articles

Other featured articles

Jack Schulz wants to litigate cases that make you put down your cup of coffee

How David Gair went from teaching to tax law

View more articles featuring lawyers

Find top lawyers with confidence

The Super Lawyers patented selection process is peer influenced and research driven, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to the Super Lawyers lists each year. We know lawyers and make it easy to connect with them.

Find a lawyer near you