Seven swimming enthusiasts are about to attempt the challenge of a lifetime — and help the nine-year-old son of a gun murder victim in the process.The men, including an Olympian, are planning to swim eight miles across open water from North Rock to Fort St Catherine on July 27 to raise funds for Hazajae Outerbridge, whose father Haile, 34, was shot dead in a double murder on Happy Valley Road in January.They believe it's the first time anyone has attempted the tricky route and they want the community to support their attempt with sponsorship pledges and donations.Participant Nick Strong told The Royal Gazette: “We think we'll be the first people to do it and it's potentially dangerous.“We are trying to negate the risk by having a support vessel with each swimmer, because at some point we are going to separate.”The idea to help Hazajae came from Haile's former boss John Tomlinson, president and CEO of Pitt & Company, who swims with the others in the sea every day.He said: “Haile worked for Pitt & Company [as a truck driver] for two-and-a-half years.“He was a great guy. One of those people, you actually enjoy his conversation.“I was upset, very surprised and shocked [about his murder]. I knew about his child through friends of his and it becomes part of the impact. I felt sorry for this kid.“They are evidently not well-to-do and evidently they would appreciate any small contribution.”Father-of-two Mr Tomlinson, also president and CEO of BGA, has already raised $3,500 for Hazajae by asking friends attending his 50th birthday party for donations.He said when the North Rock challenge came up it seemed a perfect fundraising vehicle, even if the swim itself initially sounded “too crazy to even consider” and “not for the fainthearted”.“It will take me up to five hours or longer,” he said, adding that other more experienced participants could do it in as little as three-and-a-half to four hours.Cheering on Mr Tomlinson and his co-swimmers from dry land will be Hazajae and his grandmother Marilyn Outerbridge, who told this newspaper: “Words could not even begin to express how I feel about him [Mr Tomlinson] for having the courage and the fortitude to do such a tremendous work.“I think he is very thoughtful, very kind. I told him I'm so afraid for him but he will be in my prayers. That's a long run for swimmers. I can't thank all of them enough. They are risking their life.”Mrs Outerbridge, 62, who owns and operates a trucking service, said any funds raised would be used for Hazajae's education and medical bills.The primary school pupil lives with his grandmother and was “very close” to his father. He is having counselling to deal with his loss.“He has his challenges,” said his grandmother, adding that just last week she found him sitting on his bed “just talking” to his dad.“I said 'you know, that's okay'. That's a good thing. I walked back in the kitchen and it floored me. It broke me down. If it's anything that breaks me down, it's when I see Hazajae go into that quiet mood.”Mr Strong, a 37-year-old architectural designer, said the plan for the challenge was to start at 8am from North Rock to coincide with the rising tide, “so that water is flowing onto the Bermuda platform rather than off of it”.“Towards the very end of the swim we will be crossing the Narrows, off Fort St Catherine, and in order to avoid any significant adverse currents we will need to arrive there within the hour window either side of the 1pm high tide.“The Narrows can have a fairly strong current and it won't be any fun if we get the timing wrong and end up being carried away from the finish line when we are so close to completion.”The other swimmers are Olympian Mike Cash, 45; Graham Smith, 30; Paul DeGiulio, 52; Kevin Insley, 49; and Stuart Joblin, 48 (see sidebar for more on them).The main support vessel for the challenge has been donated by Bermuda Zoological Society.* There are two ways to donate: either by visiting www.premierticketsglobal.com/OpenTickets/612/Northrock-Foundation-Challenge or through the Bermuda Masters Swimming Association. The association's account details are:Bank: HSBCAccount No: 002-060481-001Currency: BMD(Please reference North Rock Swim)For more information about the North Rock Challenge contact either Mr Strong at nstrong@northrock.bm or Mr Tomlinson at jtomlinson@bga.bm.