Reno, NV (June 11, 2013) — Robbie Schlesinger, 23, has spent the last few months preparing to swim the perimeter of Lake Tahoe in the memory of his father, Bob Schlesinger, who accomplished the same feat twice in the early 1990s. While his father swam for charities such as the American Cancer Society and Save the Rainforest, Robbie will be repeating the same swim to benefit the Solace Tree, whose message inspired him after he lost his father five years ago.
Bob Schlesinger swam lake Tahoe 23 years ago while his son was still an infant. When Robbie was fifteen, his father was injured in a car accident that eventually left him with severe chronic pain. After years of struggling with his condition, Bob Schlesinger took his own life.
As his family grieved, Robbie was inspired by the message of the Solace Tree, which provides counseling and a safe environment for those who have experienced a loss to express their grief. In cooperation with Solace Tree Executive Director Emilio Parga, Robbie has established Swimming for Solace, which will be collecting donations and pledges to directly support the Solace Tree.
Robbie is training extensively for his swim, which will kick off from King’s Beach during Camp Solace on August 3, and end on Saturday, August 31. It will take place in various legs consisting of several miles a day in 50-60 degree water, spanning several days. While the training is arduous and the challenge is daunting, Robbie finds motivation in the memory his father. “My dad always prided himself on being the guy that brought people together,” says Robbie, “and I think that’s what we should shoot for too.”
The Solace Tree, Inc. a 501c (3) non-profit based in Reno, NV, with a mission to provide peer support, information and education to schools and the community to promote healing and recovery for grieving children, teens and their families who are affected by loss. For more information, visit www.solacetree.org.