Saturday, 19 July 2014

Annaleise Carr to attempt fundraising swim across Lake Erie

Camp Trillium to receive proceeds from Erie (Pa) to Port Dover crossing, July 25-26
Jerry family of Sweaburg to play integral part in swim marathon

By Mark Schadenberg
Annaleise Carr is a name most in southern Ontario knows, but they often can't quite remember why.
The Jerry family of Sweaburg is quietly assisting her cause – crew members in a difficult yet rewarding challenge.
In the summer of 2012, Carr swam from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto and in the process became the youngest ever swimmer to cross Lake Ontario. Carr was just 14. It's hard to understand 26 hours and 41 minutes of swimming, and now she plans on exceeding that performance.
Move the calendar forward to 2016 and the now 16-year-old has a goal to swim across Lake Erie, July 25-26 (Erie, Pennsylvania to Port Dover; about 75 km). The purpose is again to raise funds for Camp Trillium (www.camptrillium.com), which is a year-round camping and activities program for families with a child battling cancer.
Bill and Karen Jerry, and grown children Kristen and Braden are integral parts of the Annaleise Carr Radical Crossing team. Long-time avid boaters, I think Bill has the Erie topographical map memorized and he needs to as just four boats and a kayak will accompany Carr on her freestyle swim sojourn.
Published by Lorimer Books, the 2012 Lake Ontario success became part of a book: Annaleise Carr: How I Conquered Lake Ontario to Help Kids Battling Cancer
If Carr completes the 2014 swim, it will be the longest-ever distance crossing of Lake Erie.
The Rainbow Lake location in Waterford is a 143-acre camp donated to Camp Trillium by the Long Point Region Conservation Authority. Activities can range from archery to fishing, crafts, kayaking and canoeing, and swimming in an in-ground pool or the picturesque lake. Each family's adventure becomes a respite and relaxation from cancer treatments.
As if to state the obvious, no family wants to spend any time at Camp Trillium as all families want health for their children.
The video link below – narrated by Bill Jerry – recalls that Carr, who lives in Walsh near Turkey Point, was deemed in 2012 to be too young to volunteer at camp Trillium, so she did much better and raised more than $200,000.
Part of her training now also includes coaching kids in the Norfolk Hammerheads swim program. Carr is dedicated to swimming and dedicated to Camp Trillium.
It truly is amazing to see a 16-year-old focus such efforts in raising awareness and dollars for the camp.

Excerpt from www.annaleisecarr.com:
My name is Annaleise Rebekah Carr, and I am a 16 year old marathon swimmer from Walsh, Ontario in Norfolk County. On August 19, 2012, I became the youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario, with the goal of raising money and awareness for Camp Trillium.
I’ve been swimming competitively since I was 4 years old. I’ve competed at long and short course provincials, as well as open water provincials, and also at the provincial lifeguard games as a member of the Town of Tillsonburg Lifesaving Club and in triathlons. I’m not very tall (4’10”), but huge in heart!
Camp Trillium has been close to my heart since I visited their camp at Rainbow Lake in the summer of 2011, as part of the North Shore Swimmers, completing a 10 km open water swim and 10 km run through Norfolk County. We raised around $15,000 for Camp Trillium, and my visit there has been forever etched in my memory.
On Sunday, August 19, 2012, I finished crossing Lake Ontario, following the traditional Marilyn Bell route from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Marilyn Bell Park near the CNE in Toronto (considered one of the most difficult open water swims in the world). I became the youngest person to complete the swim, as well as the youngest person to join the “24 Hour Club,” which includes all swimmers who do a marathon swim for 24 hours or longer. My crossing took an incredible 26 hours and 41 minutes through gruelling and wild conditions.
My world record swim has raised more awareness to Camp Trillium and childhood cancer. My original goal was to raise $30,000; I’ve now raised well over $200,000! I continue to raise funds for children’s charities (including being an ambassador for Camp Trillium and Canadian Tire Jumpstart) as I do presentations about my swim and compete in other endurance sports. My goal is to continue raising more funds for this camp so that more kids and their families can attend while they suffer the anguish of their battle with cancer.

Awards and Accolades
  • World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) Woman of the year in 2012.
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, presented by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
  • Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Pin
  • 2012 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year
  • 2012 'Canadian Sport Awards Spirit of Sport' Story of the Year
  • 2012 Inductee into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition
  • 2012 TVO Kids “Super Citizen” Award
  • #10 on CTV Kitchener Top 10 Stories of 2012
  • In the 20 people of 2012 on CHCH TV
  • Finalist for Global Marathon Swimming Awards 2012 Solo Swim of the Year (Female)
  • Named a member of Ripley’s  Aquarium Canada “Marine Teen” Youth Advisory Council


2014 Swim
Be sure to check out her website, the YouTube video, and the link to Camp Trillium as well.
Obviously a Lake Erie crossing – the Annaleise Carr Radical Crossing – is not challenged without a large support team, including the Port Dover Sail and Power Squadron, along with the Jerry family of Sweaburg (Bill, Karen, and Kristen [pictured] and Braden on the crew), and many corporate financial sponsors.
Good luck to Annaleise Carr !!
LINKS:
http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2014/06/16/in-just-over-a-month-norfolks-annaleise-carr-will-attempt-to-swim-75-kilometres-across-lake-erie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcdmCcoqOjk&list=UUCnnJPs_WNSxttVV1Ei03kw#t=11
FACEBOOK: Annaleise Carr

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

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