Local News - Despite some troubles with the weather that forced a change of
venue and time, retired police officer John Munro swam across Lake Erie
yesterday in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the Kingston YMCA.
Munro spent almost 10 hours in the water, coming ashore in Sturgeon Point,
New York, at 4:45 p.m. after battling three-foot waves and winds of up to 15
knots.
The swim was supposed to take place on Saturday, but conditions forced Munro
to postpone the swim by a day in the hopes that the waves would die down.
The start and finish locations were also swapped.
Munro was originally slated to cross into Canadian territory from the U.S.
At 7:12 a.m. yesterday, however, Munro set out from Crystal Beach, Ontario,
headed in the opposite direction.
Fourteen supporters were along for the ride, including wife and marathon
swimmer Vicki Keith. Four support boats sailed alongside Munro for the
crossing.
The journey that began with a trial swim from Bath to Amherst Island on
Canada Day will come to a conclusion three weeks from now, when Munro will
tackle the challenge of crossing Lake Ontario, a 52-kilometre swim.
In all, Munro hopes to raise $77,600 over the course of the swims, which
have been collectively called the Y Knot Marathon.
All proceeds from the marathon will go towards supporting sports programs
for physically disabled children at the Kingston Family YMCA.
Before his first swim on July 1, Munro 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 at the time. "Sports provides self-esteem,
organizational skills. It is a tremendous thing for children.
"It is a tremendous feeling to be able to touch the lives of others in a
positive and meaningful way."
