Team Gaffney, Columbia River Swim, August 27, 2000
Front Row: Lindy Mount, Gail McCormick, Karen Gaffney, Kathryn Haslach, Kelsey Bowen
Back Row: Laura Schob, Tom Landis, Sara Quan, Joe Tennant, Brian Gaffney, Mike Tennant, Tim Haslach, Marc Bowen
Team Gaffney 2001
Relay Roster
The Goal: By swimming a relay across the 21-mile-wide English
Channel this month, members of Team Gaffney hope to raise awareness about the
potential of people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. They also are
raising money for the nonprofit Karen Gaffney Foundation, which, through
videotapes and speaking engagements, champions full, productive and inclusive
lives for the disabled.
Information: To learn more, contact the Karen Gaffney Foundation.
815 NW 13th Ave, Suite C, Portland, OR 97209; call 503-973-5130; or
look on the web at www.karengaffneyfoundation.com.
The Swimmers
Karen Gaffney: The 23-year-old Portland woman last month graduated
from Portland Community College with an associate of science degree and a
certificate qualifying her to work as a teacher's aide. She hopes to
work in an early intervention program. Gaffney, who has Down syndrome, is
president of the Karen Gaffney Foundation.
Kathryn Haslach: A 40-year-old mother of two, she owns and operates
Sewsoft, a company that makes baby blankets. In 1992, she attempted a solo
swim across the English Channel and completed a relay. When she heard that
Gaffney wanted to swim the channel, she suggested assembling a relay team.
Tim Haslach: Kathryn's husband, also 40, is a partner in
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, a Portland law firm. He was an Oregon State
High School swim champ in 1979 and swam for the US Naval Academy. The
Haslach's live in Northwest Portland.
Gail McCormick: A writer and marathon runner, McCormick, 45,
attempted an English Channel swim when she was 23. When the French shore was
in sight, the tide changed and she was unable to finish. It was
McCormick's idea to turn the Team Gaffney relay into a fund-raising
event.
Sara Quan: One of the nation's top open-water swimmers in her
age group, Quan, 28, is a certified personal trainer, swim coach and skiing
instructor. She lives in Bend and trains with Central Oregon Masters
Aquatics.
Tom Landis: Landis, 59, is a former teacher and semiretired rancher
and outfitter guide. He returned to competitive swimming at age 55; last year,
he placed fourth in the world in the 1,500-meter freestyle for his age
group.
Mike Tennant: A real estate developer in Bend, Tennant swam for
Portland State University. Now, the 48- year-old sprinter trains with a
masters group at Juniper Pool in Bend.
Joe Tennant: Mike's 49-year-old brother is president of
Pacific Marine Leasing in Portland. He grew up swimming at the now defunct
Aero Club in downtown Portland and competed for Georgetown University.
Marc Bowen: A 48-year-old film and video producer from Southwest
Portland, he and his sister Gail McCormick were lifeguards on the Oregon Coast
when they were in college. He's helping Karen Gaffney produce her second
video, which is aimed at helping teachers prepare to instruct children with
learning disabilities.
Kelsey Bowen: Marc Bowen's daughter, she is a lifeguard at the
pool at Wilson High School, where she will be a junior next fall. Kelsey will
turn 16 today.
Laura Schob: She grew up swimming on a summer league team in
Lakeview and coached a swim team when she was a student at Oregon State
University. Now, the 42- year- -old middle school teacher trains with other
masters swimmers in Bend, where she lives.
Lindy Mount: A triathlete and member of an adventure racing team,
Mount, 41, is a Portland Community College student who plans to be a personal
trainer. She and her twin 11-year-old boys live in Southwest Portland.
Alternates: Brian Gaffney, Karen's 21-year-old brother;
Camillo Bruce, a Los Angeles college student.
-- by Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian
© The Karen Gaffney Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
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