On February 4th, Canadian marathon swimming legend Vicki Keith captivated a sold-out audience at Waves for Hospice’s kick-off luncheon at Maximillian’s in Perth. She spoke of her storied career in the water and how she overcame challenges over the years by considering them minor inconveniences. She set 16 world records for distance swims and was the first to complete a double crossing of Lake Ontario.
In her speech she spoke of her own inspiration from her mother’s support of hospice care which led to using many of her achievements as fundraisers for worthy causes.
She told of an incredible dare given to her by friends to swim across all five Great Lakes and how she prepared for the impossible task by confirming her commitment while looking at a map of the lakes each day and visualizing the outcome. But no one could predict that she would complete this seemingly insurmountable feat in one summer.
Her parent’s inspiration and life examples led her to commit to improving her community and the lives of those around her and let her discover early on, her love of both distance swimming and youth instruction.
Waves for Hospice is a new community fundraiser for the Hospice Hub which starts on February 9th and runs to March 30th at the Perth indoor pool (or any indoor pool). It involves lap swimming, aquafit participation, and family swims.
Perth Councillor Isabel Anne McRae has committed to swimming 5 times a week for the 7 weeks, looking to match Keith’s accomplishment of her Lake Ontario double crossing by covering 54 miles in the water. Find out how to support McRae and others, or to get in the swim yourself at thehospicehub.ca/wavesforhospice
Story by Brian Turner
