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Islander to cross two Great Lakes

Retired police officer swims to raise money for disabled athletes
Napanee Beaver
Adam Bramburger
June 25, 2003

SEVEN years ago, John Munro had to bail out of an attempt to cross Lake Ontario with two miles remaining because of a shoulder injury.

This year, he has some extra motivation to complete the task.

The robust 52-year-old Amherst Island volunteer firefighter is planning to cross both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario this summer to raise money to help develop sports programs for children with disabilities.

"(Helping the children) was really the primary thing, the Lake Ontario swim was always in the back of my mind, knowing that I could be successful at it," he said.

"When the opportunity to help do something arose, it brought that little thought in my mind to the front."

Munro moved to Amherst Island with his wife Vicki Keith, an accomplished marathon swimmer herself, to found a swimming program for children with disabilities in the Kingston area.

"We learned that the organization Sport for Disabled referred to the Greater Kingston Area as sort of a black-hole," Munro explains. "There were very little opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in athletics."

Keith, who holds 14 world records for marathon swimming coaches a swim team for disabled children and their siblings at the Kingston Family YMCA .

Munro says with the money raised by his swim, they hope to develop programs for wheelchair basketball, track and field, and sledge hockey as well.

He will kick-off his campaign with a qualifying swim on Canada Day from Bath to Amherst Island a four-mile distance.

From there, he will first attempt the Lake Erie crossing between Sturgeon Point, N.Y. and Crystal Beach, Ontario.

Munro says this swim should take seven hours, and is the easier of the two-however, he says no swim is easy. Because it is a shallow lake, the waters on Lake Erie can be quite choppy. 

As the date draws nearer, Munro says he will begin watching the water temperatures since swimming in water cooler than 60 F is not recommended.

"You're risking hypothermia when you get into water temperatures that cold, he says.

Munro says he will also be looking for advantageous wind conditions. 

A support team of 15-20 people, including members of the Niagara Regional Police and Keith will be on the water with Munro through the swim. 

If all goes well, he then hopes to attempt the Lake Ontario swim again from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Toronto.

He says the swim should take about 20 hours, but he's set aside extra time.

"You don't know what you're going to get while you're out there," he said. 

Munro must complete the swim without any stops, even to eat his food, he must tread water.

Only 34 people have ever successfully crossed Lake Ontario. Keith, who has done it six times, is not surprised her husband is giving it another shot.

"I knew it was coming. I could see that desire in him to get in there and really challenge himself," she said.

She has been helping Munro train, and offering advice whenever she can. He started training in September in the YMCA pool and has only been on the Lake within the past two weeks.

Munro started working out with a combination of running, weight-lifting, and swimming, but has since focused on sprint and distance swims.

Keith helps design training programs and monitors Munro's stroke to make sure it is as efficient as possible.

"I hope I've been able to help him," she says. 

His shore crew which consists of Amherst Island Emergency Services Association members has also been essential in spreading the word about the swims.

Munro and Keith are the marshalls for the Bath Canada Day parade this year and their swim team, the Y Penguins will also have a float.

For each nautical mile Munro swims in his "Y-knot marathon", he is hoping to raise $2,000 for the children's programs.

At present, without much public attention, Munro has already raised $12,000.

The campaign launch is slated for later this week. 

"It's really not about the swim, it's about the kids," Munro said. "I'm just the vehicle to help.

Munro says the programs he is supporting have been life-changing for those who are involved.

Currently, the Y Penguin draw swimmers from as far west as Napanee and Sandhurst and as far east as Gananoque.

" Geographically, it tells there is a great need," Munro says. 

He adds that sport can be a lifeline for athletes with life-threatening conditions.

Those wishing to donate money in support of Munro can do so by visiting his Web site at www.amherstisland.on.ca/YKnot.