Rotary Club of Peterborough Makes Big Splashes At the 39th Annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim

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The 39th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim dipped into the YMCA Central East Ontario pool to fundraise their goal of $50,000 for Easter Seals Ontario and Rotary Club of Peterborough on Friday morning.

Around 15 teams/organizations signed up to participate in the Swimathon. Groups and individuals signed up to do swim lanes, catwalk and cannonball challenges to support Easter Seals and Rotary Projects in our Community for the event’s 39th rendition.

“It's amazing to have an event go on this long,” explained said Vanessa Oake Hogan, event organizer. “I think it means a lot to the community and it's had so much support that we're able to carry that support forward and we don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

This is the first swim without Carl Oake, as the family announced his passing in early January. He started this event 39 years ago.

“I hope he's here watching over us and I think he'd be really proud,” said Oake Hogan.

At the end of the swim, Century 21 Realty presented the Oake family with a bench dedicated to Carl Oake’s memory and legacy to remain at the YMCA.

“It was hard coming back into the pool after dad passed because he swam here all the time but to be able to come here now and see that bench, I think it's going to be really special for us,” explained Oake Hogan.

Since its inception, the Swimathon has raised over $1.4 million for Easter Seals and Rotary Projects. Other recipients of the proceeds are literacy programs, various shelters (Brock Mission, Yes Shelter and more), Breakfast for Kids, Camp Kawartha, Rotary Trail and more.

Over $17,500 of the $50,000 goal was already raised online at the publication of this article but more funds have yet to be accounted for with a final tally.

Anyone can donate at any time online at the Rotary’s website.

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