Brenda Jenkins will slip into the refreshing waters off Fern Resort this Saturday for an annual fundraiser she started 25 years ago.
The retired social worker who recently turned 60 will swim 4 km to Couchiching Beach in the Sun City Swim.
For the third year, the money raised will go to the Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe Muskoka, which helps young crime victims.
Those children are Jenkins' inspiration as she front crawls across the lake.
"It is definitely in my mind and and its unfortunate that there's such a high need for this and that the beneficiary has to be this way but I'm really glad that we can do it for them," said Jenkins.
"Having been a social worker I am somewhat familiar of the trauma that people have gone through for various different events in their life or situations. It hits home that way. I do think of that when I'm crossing the lake."
Jenkins started the swim when she worked in pediatric rehabilitation at the Hugh MacMillan Rehab Centre in Toronto.
The centre allowed her to use the therapy pool for lunch-time swims so she came up with the fundraiser as a way of giving back.
She eventually moved to Orillia and over the years several organizations have benefited from the event, including Soldier's Memorial Hospital Foundation, which suggested she transfer the beneficiary to the Advocacy Centre.
The twenty-five year milestone is hard for Jenkins to believe.
"It hasn't hit me yet. Probably when I do it and get to the other side. I guess it has been such a gradual thing every year, and it's just an expectation that I'll do it that I didn't realize, wow 25 years."
This year, Jenkins and anyone else who wants to participate, will be raising money, not only for the Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe Muskoka in Orillia but for a new Child Advocacy centre planned for Barrie.
The goal is to raise $25,000 to mark the swim's 25th anniversary.
In recent years a couple of health issues have forced Jenkins to slow down so It takes about two hours now for her to complete the crossing
"It's challenging. It becomes more challenging every year. I'm definitely a lot slower than I used to be," laughs Jenkins, who is extremely fit and still trains.
There are no age restrictions for the swim which is well-supervised by emergency personnel including various fire departments and the OPP.
In addition to the 4 km swim there's a less daunting 1 km course.
Jenkins enjoys the swim and calls it a fun event.
But don't call her a hero for starting it all.
"I just see it as a team effort, not just myself. It couldn't be possible without everybody."
For information on how to participate or donate go the the Child Advocacy Centre's web site http://www.cacsimcoemuskoka.ca/
