Karratha paraplegic aims to smash swim record at Karratha Leisureplex and raise funds for The Smith Family

A Karratha paraplegic who completed a gruelling 10-hour, 7.5km swim last year and was praised as a “local legend” by Mark McGowan is deep in training to smash his record again and raise funds for charity. Luke Whatley, who has been paraplegic since birth, is planning to swim 10km to raise funds for The Smith Family on December 3 for International Day of People with Disability. Mr Whatley will swim one lap for every $100 donated to the not-for-profit group which provides disadvantaged children with education support and programs, as well as food and schoolbooks. Mr Whatley’s goal is to swim 200 laps of the Karratha Leisureplex 50m pool to beat the record he set last year. He swam 150 laps last December with support from local not-for-profit group Empowering People in Communities, raising $2000 for the Kmart wishing tree appeal. This year Mr Whatley has partnered with EPIC and Good Turn Disability Support for the swim on December 3. “Last week I smashed 62 laps so I can remember we’re close to 70 so I’m doing extremely well,” he said. “I am quite capable of smashing a big one. “I’m determined to go over my 150 laps I did last year.” Mr Whatley said he was raising money for The Smith Family foundation to help children go to school. “That money will go towards school uniforms, schoolbooks and make sure they’ve got food at school,” he said. Mr Whatley said he hoped to inspire the community to achieve their dreams. “I’m out there to set a good example for people and show people with disabilities can achieve their goals and make a difference in the community,” he said. Good Turn Disability Support care co-ordinator Jade Jandera said Mr Whatley had already raised more than $4000. “The goal was for Luke to swim one lap for every $100 donated but he’s raised nearly $4500 so far and he’s got his heart set on swimming over 150 laps regardless,” she said. Mr Whatley said he hoped the Premier would come up to Karratha to watch him perform the athletic feat. “I’d also very much love it if Mark McGowan could come from Perth to attend my swim because I want him to see with his own eyes what I can actually do,” he said. Last year’s swim earned Mr Whatley praise from his hero in a Facebook post with Mr McGowan saying Mr Whatley was a “local legend who had shown tremendous personal determination to achieve his goals”.