Orthodontist’s tenacious bid to raise funds and awareness for ADA DHF

Dr Lachlan Crowther knows a thing or two about significant challenges.

The orthodontist from Brisbane, where he operates a successful practice with his wife, Dr Angie Phelan, began his career in the Central West of Queensland where, for much of his tenure he was the only public dentist for towns like Longreach, Blackall and Winton along with smaller towns like Birdsville, Bedourie and Tambo.

That commitment to working in often underserved rural areas continued after orthodontic study in Sydney with Professor Ali Darendeliler with work in Dubbo and monthly visits to Roma in Queensland.

So, the idea of swimming the English Channel to raise money for the ADA Dental Health Foundation (ADA DHF) is not something that fazes him.

Inspired by a friend who successfully swam the body of water separating the UK and France in 2014, Lachlan is eager to test his tenacity and resilience which he believes play a critical role in professional life.

A further motivation is the opportunity provided by this big-ticket undertaking to raise much-needed funds for the ADA DHF which works to improve the dental health of Australians who cannot easily access or afford dental care through programs such as Rebuilding Smiles, Dental Rescue Days and Adopt a Patient.

“As a dentist, I know the positive impact that can be made through dental rehabilitation, but I am also aware that our services can be challenging to access for segments of our population.

“My hope is that by swimming the English Channel that I can shift the focus onto dentistry which is often passed over in charitable endeavours and increase access to much-needed services.”

As Lachlan will no doubt attest, the swim at the heart of this impressive fundraising effort is not for the fainthearted.

While the distance if you’re snug and dry in a boat is 34km, that grows to 40km for swimmers who have to contend with sometimes unpredictable tides and current.

Small wonder then with an average crossing time of 13 hours and 34 minutes, fewer than 2000 people have completed the challenge.

Lachlan plans to be among that number, with his attempt, scheduled for late August/early September – when it happens exactly will depend on when favourable conditions occur during that period – being bolstered by a detailed and strenuous training regimen including the Port to Pub swim from Perth to Rottnest Island as well as two eight-hour cold water swim marathons in Melbourne and Sydney.

It’s a huge amount of effort, but Lachlan is more than confident that it will all be worth it as he swims to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the ADA DHF.