To mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Keith Breslauer, managing director at European real estate manager Patron Capital, crossed the English Channel in a kayak.
Breslauer completed an 87½ nautical mile paddle at night, starting in Portsmouth, England, and landing in Port-en-Bessin, France, in commemoration of Operation Overlord — the Allies' mass air and water assault on Nazi-occupied France, which began on June 6, 1944. Breslauer is also vice patron of charity at The Royal Marines Association, and completed the journey alongside 19 serving and veteran Royal Marines.
He and fellow participants finished up on the Allies' landing beaches, beginning with the U.S. sections (code names Utah and Omaha) on June 5, and ending with the British and Canadian sections (code names Gold, Juno and Sword) on June 6. They then joined a re-enactment of the landings at Sword Beach with the Royal Marines unit 47 Commando.
Breslauer and his fellow paddlers wanted to increase awareness of both the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the RMA charity's work with veterans. Patron Capital will match all funds raised through the expedition. Patron Capital and Breslauer have already raised about £5.3 million ($6.7 million) for the charity since 2010, helping more than 460 serving and retired service personnel.
"This year's anniversary of Operation Overlord is one of the last chances to commemorate a major anniversary of the largest opposed amphibious operation in human history with living veterans," Breslauer said in a news release ahead of the expedition. "To honor the 4,414 men who lost their lives on D-Day and the 73,000 men who lost their lives in the ensuing Battle for Normandy, I am privileged to be able to complete this crossing in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to defend our freedom.”
The RMA, Breslauer and Patron Capital have also worked with the Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre to help war veterans preparing to re-enter civilian life through donations to fund specialist equipment, respite breaks for veterans and their families at Patron Capital-owned hotels, and introductions to source internship and career opportunities.
Breslauer is also the founder of Patron Capital, which has €5.2 billion ($5.6 billion) in capital under management.
