Jodi Haugh had something of an epiphany after her friend became ill with cancer.
“It just didn’t feel like it was enough to have lunch with her," recalled the York Regional Police officer, who wanted to offer some kind of help. Perhaps she couldn’t help her friend directly, but there was a bigger picture where she might be of some assistance.
Haugh is a former water polo player and competitive swimmer. She was also active in the force’s marine unit before she was promoted and moved to another area.
So she set her sights on a fundraising swim and got the go-ahead from the police force, as well as the support she needed to create Splash for Southlake. The event honours those affected by cancer and undergoing lifesaving treatment with Southlake Regional Health Centre's cancer care program.
Given that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October, and September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, she figured Oct. 1 would be the perfect day, no matter what temperature Lake Simcoe offered.
During its three years so far, the 16-kilometre swim from Friday Harbour in Innisfil to the York Regional Police marine unit headquarters in Georgina, Haugh and her support team have raised nearly $38,000.
While the swim and its objective are essentially the same, some aspects have been honed over the years. And Haugh said this year’s swim set the tone for future years.
“This year, it was awesome. We had 13 swimmers that got involved,” she says, adding that all the elements came together nicely and will likely be duplicated, as much as it can be, next year.
While Haugh was alone in the water during the first swim, the additional swimmers this year meant that they were able to take turns to ensure someone was in the water at all times. Instead of swimming the entire six-plus hours, Haugh was in the water for about two-and-a-half hours this year.
The swim, she explains, presents several potential challenges and nailing down the time it takes to do is difficult, given the various water conditions such as temperature and waves, as well as environmental conditions such as wind and rain.
Extended exposure to open water, particularly later in the season, presents the possibility of hypothermia, which the swimmers try to avoid by wearing wetsuits.
“It was warmer, but if you’re in the water for a few hours, it gets pretty chilly.”
Again, in a nod to safety, Haugh’s former marine unit’s involvement is essential. To have a boat and crew on hand through the swim provides the swimmers with a sense of comfort, knowing that they can get out of the water to warmth, or even to help if things go awry, quickly.
In addition to the strategic planning involved, Haugh ensures she is physically prepared.
“I use a tether in the pool and I also try to get into the lake as much as possible and have somebody with me in a kayak,” she says. "if you don’t do the strokes, you can’t do it (the swim).
“I do enjoy cold plunges… however, I still think that doesn’t prepare you for it.”
That means there’s some mental fortitude required to take on the challenge.
Haugh said this year the crew lucked out. The lake was rough starting out but quickly calmed down and became flat, making for more of a gentle swim. And the water was a balmy 19C, a jump up from 16C the first year and 18C last year.
For more about Haugh’s fundraising efforts, go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/splashforsouthlake
