Although Wil Wegman of Bradford Ontario, might be more well known for catching fish than swimming with them … it’s exactly the latter that he will be doing on Saturday August 10th in the fish-filled waters of Orillia’s Lake Couchiching. “I’ll be swimming in my first long-distance lake-swim event and I’m really excited about it,” said Wegman. The annual charity event is called the Sun City Swim and is a fundraiser by the local hospital. All proceeds from the Sun City Swim 2013 will benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital … supporting the tiniest and most vulnerable patients. To provide a small donation to this great cause in Wil’s name, please click on the link below.
“I have always loved fishing Couchiching and have competed in many bass tournaments there over the years. In recent tournaments, I saw swimmers crossing the lake during this event – and thought how I would love to try that some day. The only challenge was not really being much of a long distance swimmer!” said Wegman. That all changed around April of 2012 when Wegman’s home town of Bradford opened up a beautiful new indoor Pool, and Wil began swimming laps. Soon he was swimming 3, 4 and sometimes even 5 mornings a week. “Unlike so many other forms of exercise that just seem like so much work and not a lot of fun, swimming has always been enjoyable and relatively easy for me, so adopting a new routine hasn’t been that big of a deal,” he said.
Wil with a Couchiching Smallmouth Bass
Swimming the four kilometres on August 10th from Fern Resort to Couchiching Beach Park, with 60 or 70 other swimmers however, might very well be a big deal. “Lake swimming is so much different than swimming in a pool … and Couchiching is notorious for rough waters with big waves – so I’m praying for a calm day!” The 2013 Sun City Swim will attract swimmers of all skill levels including one very accomplished long distance swimmer. Annaleise Carr, who at 14 last year, became the youngest person ever to cross Lake Ontario, will be joining all the other swimmers for the Sun City Swim.
Since 2010, the event has raised over $30,000 that has gone towards equipment and programs for Orillia’s hospital. Wil is hoping his friends and family will log onto his “Giving Page” and contribute a few dollars for this worthy cause. “I don’t know for sure that I’ll be able to swim the four kilometres, but I’m sure going to give it all that I have. I just hope that I won’t be too distracted by all the nice bass I may see swimming below me along the way … but I’ll try to stay focussed on swimming and reaching the other side of Cooch, ” he concluded.
To support Wil’s attempt to swim across Lake Couchiching, please log onto the link below and follow the easy instructions provided.
Thank you very much!
http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=24800
For more information on the Sun City Swim: http://www.osmh.on.ca/osmh/Top/event/suncityswim.aspx