5 Women. 5 Days. 305 Kilometers.
Never-been-done swim relay to raise funds for Plans International's "Because I am a Girl"
(firmenpresse) - TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 07/23/13 -- Fifty-six people have successfully completed the 52.5-kilometer swim across the width of Lake Ontario from the mouth of the Niagara River to Toronto's Marilyn Bell Park.
But not one has ever swum the entire length of the lake.
Beginning July 23, five Ontario women-ranging in age from 18 to 61-will set out to be the first team to do so.
From Confederation Park in Kingston to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, the women will swim through 305.2 kilometers of unpredictable waters, tackling Lake Ontario-for the very first time-from end to end.
The swim will be conducted as a continuous relay, with each swimmer doing two-hour stints at a time. It will continue day and night for what is expected to be five days in total-the longest five-person relay swim ever attempted.
"These women are not only making history but also inspiring other women to go after their dreams, in a big way," said Kathy McKeil, Communications Director with McKeil Marine, the event's champion sponsor.
All five women are accomplished swimmers. Four have successfully completed Lake Ontario crossings. One swam the English Channel. None are strangers to the conditions and risks associated with marathon swimming.
"We know Lake Ontario is unforgiving," says Nicole Mallette, 47. "Swimmers from around the world come here to take on this lake which can go from calm to crashing waves in a matter of minutes." But, the only thing that could pull these ladies from the water is lightning.
"Given the way this summer is going, there will probably be some drama around the weather, but unless we're forced to stop, we'll keep on swimming no matter what."
The entire swim will be done against the current, but the swimmers say that despite the extra challenge, they'll be swimming in the direction of home which gives them a psychological boost that's more powerful than swimming with the current would be.
As if the record swim isn't enough, the ladies have set another lofty goal. With the help of sponsor they're looking to raise $300,000 for Plan International's "Because I am a Girl" initiative.
The women are swimming under the banner "Because Girls Can" and have chosen this charity as a way of showing gratitude for the opportunities they've each been afforded.
"We've all had the chance to follow our dreams and live out our passions," says Mallette. "Many girls, around the world, and in Canada, are not as lucky."
For McKeil, a major supporter of charitable causes on the lake, including , the sponsorship made complete sense. "As a marine transportation provider delivering innovative marine solutions, we know that water is a shared and valuable resource," McKeil said. "This 'never been done before' swim will serve to bring awareness to the invaluable work that our friends at Lake Ontario Waterkeeper are doing to support a swimmable, drinkable, fishable lake."
The women have a long way to go to reach their $300,000 goal, but are hoping that as they swim past cities and towns in Ontario people will come out to cheer them on and support this important cause. "This is a great chance for people across Ontario to donate funds and help give more girls a chance to live out their dreams," says Mallette.
Representatives from McKeil Marine and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, as well as members of the swim team are available for interviews beginning this week.
Swim details:
Official start: July 23, 2013 at 10 a.m. EST from Kingston's Confederation Park (send-off to feature Kingston Mayor Mark Gerretsen and other local dignitaries)
All five swimmers will start the first 1km together before beginning the relay portion of the swim.
Swimmers and their coaches will be available for interviews throughout the five-day swim and will be actively updating and responding to social media, tracking progress in real time via their website .
Race finale: The swimmers are set to finish the relay on Saturday, July 27 at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington. Time TBD.
Fundraising details:
Funds are being collected through the Because Girls Can website: . One-half of all funds collected for "Because I am a Girl" will be used to support programs here in Canada.
About McKeil Marine:
Operating since 1956, McKeil Marine's core business is providing cost effective transportation and project services for a wide array of industries. With its diverse and versatile fleet of tugs and barges, McKeil's highly-skilled sailing and support crew, marine architects and engineers work closely with customers to provide innovative marine solutions throughout the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, Eastern Canada and the Arctic.
About Lake Ontario Waterkeeper:
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is a Canadian charity working for a day when every person in our watershed can safely touch the water, when the water is pure enough to drink, and when the lake is clean and wild enough that you could toss in a line anywhere and pull out a fish. () People who want to learn more about beaches in the areas the swimmers pass through should check out the Waterkeeper Swim Guide, a smartphone app and website that shows current water quality conditions at 5,000 beaches ().
Contacts:
Felicity [Inspiring Communications]
Kevin Morrison
416-856-9807
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Datum: 23.07.2013 - 15:47 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
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