When Toronto high school teacher Sam Garrison set out to swim the English Channel, it wasn’t just about testing his endurance—it was about bringing voices to the thousands of people that have no choice but cross the same dangerous waters in small boats in search of hope and refuge.
Over the last 17 years, Sam has helped young people believe in themselves, guiding students past the labels and self-doubt that too often hold them back. In 2022, after the long grind of pandemic teaching, he needed a challenge that would push him physically, mentally, and emotionally. The goal he chose was monumental: a 58-kilometre swim from Dover, England, to Wissant, France, in some of the coldest, roughest waters in the world.
The training started with a lot of research and advice from experienced swimmers. From there, Sam set small goals for himself along the way: swimming for 20 minutes straight, navigating in the cold, a 5km swim, then 10km and ultimately an ultramarathon. In the past three years, he’s completed over 2,500 km in the water.
At first, the journey was personal. But as Sam learned more about the hardships many in his own city face— and the critical role food banks like Daily Bread play—his mission grew.
Sam’s mom has been a dedicated volunteer at Daily Bread for years. Through her, he started hearing about the exponential increase in demand and the deepening food insecurity crisis, particularly among newcomers. According to Who’s Hungry 2024, four in five new food bank clients are newcomers to Canada.
“It was heartbreaking to hear the stories of possible shortages at the food bank, and the statistics were startling. Families having to decide between food and rent. Newcomers coming here to start a new life and not being able to afford to feed themselves and their families,” Sam said. “Seeing [my mom’s] passion for the work that the organization is doing was really the inspiration for me to partner with Daily Bread for the fundraiser.”
On the day of the swim, he set out from Dover just after sunset. The crossing took 16 hours and 15 minutes, most of them in rough, relentless seas. There were stretches of pitch-dark swimming, hours of jellyfish stings, and persistent seasickness. When he felt like giving up, he looked at the support boat, where his crew—three friends who had flown from Toronto—cheered him on.
“I wasn’t just swimming for myself, I was swimming for everyone who was supporting me and I couldn’t let them down,” Sam said. The words “Never Give Up” written on his forearm were a constant reminder of the people who believed in him.
When his hand finally scraped the sand of the shore, Sam collapsed in disbelief.
“I thought of everyone who had donated, everyone who had cheered me on. This wasn’t just my victory—it belonged to all of us who believe no one should go hungry,” he said.
We’re deeply grateful to Sam for his fundraising support, and his dedication to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, should be able to able to access the food they need.
If you would like to support Sam’s fundraiser on behalf of Daily Bread Food Bank, please donate today.
