Susan Simmons, an ultra-marathon swimmer, is leading a team of swimmers with developmental disabilities as they attempt to swim from Jordan River to Colwood.
The team, dubbed the Spirit Orcas, will be swimming the distance in four 15-kilometre swims over the course of multiple weeks.
The swim is being called the “Big Tough Swim” by the team and is part of a multi-year training plan in preparation for an eventual attempt to cross the English Channel.
The team will be divided into two groups — J-Pod and K-Pod — with J-Pod swimmers Drew Sabourin, Ben Vanlierop and Aly White intending to swim the entire Big Tough route, while the K-pod’s Cheyenne Furlong-Goos, Dixon McGowan, Meliah Motchman, Maria Sharock and Lidia White will join their teammates for a portion of the last leg of the swim.
“Part of the swim involves issuing a friendly challenge to the public, asking them to donate their time to help members of the community living with disabilities set and achieve goals,” Simmons explains. “We think the greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of time.”
The Spirit Orcas completed a similar swim last summer having swam from Brentwood Bay to Colwood over a series of eight 10-kilometre lengths.
“The 15-kilometre distance is going to be tough, but the Spirit Orcas are dedicated and have been training all year,” Simmons said.
The first leg of the Big Tough Swim — depending on weather — is slated to begin on Saturday, June 26.
The full swim schedule is as follows:
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Stage 1: Jordan River to Muir Creek (June 26)
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Stage 2: Muir Creek to Whiffin Spit (July 3)
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Stage 3: Whiffin Spit to Shelter Islands near Pedder Bay (July 10)
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Stage 4: Shelter Islands to Colwood Waterfront (July 24)
“The 15-kilometre distance is going to be tough, but the Spirit Orcas are dedicated and have been training all year,” Simmons said.
The training agenda for the Spirit Orcas also includes a swim around Hornby Island as well as across the Strait of Georgia in 2021, the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 2022 and from England to France, slated for sometime in 2023-2024.
People can track the swim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
Graham Cox
