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John Munro is a retired police officer and a part-time firefighter for Loyalist Township, dedicated to helping kids with disabilities improve their quality of life through sport.

Coached by his wife, marathon swimmer Vicki Keith, John will swim 38.8 Knots (72 km) across Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. At $2,000 per knot, John’s goal is to raise $77,600 to help Vicki and the Kingston Family YMCA develop programs for kids with special needs.

100% of public donations will go directly to the kids.

Why is John swimming the Knot Marathon?

“I am swimming to change lives. To open up a whole new world of opportunities for young people with physical disabilities. Many of the young people we are working with have life altering or life threatening conditions. Up to this point there have been very few opportunities for these young people to participate in sport and recreational activities. They are often forgotten. The programs that we are developing with the Kingston Family YMCA give these children the chance not only to participate but more importantly to belong. It is an awesome feeling when you can touch a child's life in such a powerful way.”

Is Sport Important?

Although competing and winning is always fun for youngsters, sport offers so much more. Sport can teach a strong work ethic, organizational skills, and teamwork to name just a few. Young people have the opportunity to spend time learning and practicing goal setting and leadership skills. They learn to develop a positive attitude and explore the importance of focusing on their abilities – not their disabilities. In short, sport teaches skills on how to live a successful, productive, happy life.

Can any child with a disability experience

self-improvement and success in these programs?

Knot?

The Knot Marathon

The Y Knot marathon will take John Munro across Lake Erie from Sturgeon Point, New York, to Crystal Beach, Ontario. It’s a distance of 10.8 knots (20 km) Depending on conditions, John will tackle this first challenge in early July. In early August, he will take on Lake Ontario from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto …another 28 knots (52 km). In total, more than 38.8 knots (72 km).

To conquer the two lakes, John has been training hard, very hard since September ’02. By the time he is ready to go, he will have trained for 46 weeks and swam over 525 km.

John’s goal is to help the Kingston Family YMCA develop programs at the Y’s satellite expansion at the Beechgrove Centre. Programs that will be developed through John’s efforts include recreational activities, as well as competitive swimming, wheelchair basketball, track and field, martial arts and boccia.

Knot Pitch In And Help Kids?

Please make cheques payable to the Kingston Family YMCA and send to:

Kingston Family YMCA c/o Heather Macdonald

100 Wright Crescent

Kingston, Ontario

K7L 4T9

In the memo area on your cheque, please write Y Knot Marathon.

For more information, please contact swim manager Neil Johnston at (613) 389-5389 or Heather Macdonald at the Kingston Family Y at (613) 546-2647 ext.238.

Thank you for your support.