Frederick Brooke of Old Lyme has been named a finalist for the Oticon Focus on People Award, given to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of people with hearing loss.

Brooke is one of three national finalists for the adults category of the award.

Inspired by a seriously ill girl he met in 2001, Brooke raised money for her family by swimming across Long Island Sound. The swim, dubbed AngelSwim, became an annual event, with Brooke swimming 850 miles along the coast of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine to the Canadian border to raise money for sick children.

In 2004, Brooke and partner Lynn McCarthy started AngelRide, a two-day, 135-mile race across Connecticut to raise money for The Hole in the Wall Camp for sick children. To date, the race has raised more than $5.75 million and has allowed the camp to start a hospital outreach program for camp counselors to visit children in oncology wards.

Voting for the national winner is open through Aug. 24. For more information, visit oticon.com.

Friends & Neighbors is a regular feature in the Times. To submit a story on someone being recognized or transitioning to something new, email times@theday.com.