John Munro celebrated Canada Day in a most unlikely way yesterday: He swam from the Village of Bath to Amherst Island to raise awareness and money for the Kingston YMCA Disabled Children's Fund.
Munro, a retired Toronto Police detective who is married to marathon swimmer Vicki Keith, swam four miles to raise awareness and money for the fund.
"It is a tremendous feeling to be able to touch the lives of others in a positive and meaningful way," Munro said in a speech before his swim.
Successfully completing the swim qualified him for the Y Knot Marathon, which involves swimming 12 miles across Lake Erie and 32 miles across Lake Ontario.
Munro, who has been training since September, hopes to raise more than $72,000 to help the YMCA develop programs for children with special needs.
He said he and his wife want to create more ways for young people with disabilities to participate in sports.
"We moved to Kingston to help develop programs for children with disabilities," Munro said.
"Sports provides self-esteem, organizational skills. It is a tremendous thing for children."
Munro completed the swim in two hours, 20 minutes, and 13 seconds.
"It was rough for the first 45 minutes," he said."It calmed down closer to (Amherst Island).
"(The swim) felt absolutely awesome," added Munro, who was greeted by more than 200 supporters after he finished his swim.
Keith, who is the first and only person to swim across all five Great Lakes and is the holder of 14 world records, helped her husband train.
"I told him be prepared to put everything into it," said Keith, who paddled in a kayak alongside her husband as he swam.
"Timing isn't very important. The most important thing is to get the job done."
Born in Newmarket in 1951, Munro grew up in Beaverton and Toronto. He joined the police force approximately three decades ago because he said he wanted to make an impact.
"It was a challenge and I wanted to make a difference in the community," Munro said.
After being with the force for 31 years, Munro retired last year.
Munro, who has volunteered for more than 25 years, has been involved with Big Brothers, the Canadian Progress Club, Variety Village and the Amherst Island Men's Society. He has also helped two young swimmers with disabilities complete marathon swims.
His wife has been equally involved, raising more than $800,000 for Variety Clubs worldwide.
Jenna Lambert, who is 12, is part of the Kingston Y Penguins Aquatic Club and is one of the children Munro and Keith are trying to help.
Jenna uses a walker to move around.
"It is awesome especially since he is doing it to help kids with disabilities and their sisters and brothers," Jenna said about Munro.
She said she enjoyed sitting on the YMCA float yesterday.
"It is cool, being the centre of attention, fun seeing people smile and making them happy."
Munro said he has great hopes for the children he seeks to help.
"The young people...will themselves become great Canadians who will in turn make a difference in the lives of others," Munro said.
