The 20th annual Carl Oake Swimathon was held in the Peterborough Family YMCA pool in February and raised funds for Easter Seals, the Peterborough Rotary Club, the Five Counties Children’s Centre Foundation and the new YMCA. The 36 registered swim teams raised a record $43,800 for the charities.
Carl Oake – a 60-year-old REALTOR® and chief supporter of charities benefiting children – swam 120 laps during the event.
“I feel really good,” Oake said, as he sipped some orange Gatorade after completing the one-hour swim. “I want everyone who helped to know how much I appreciate it. I give them all a huge thank you.”
Oake said the amount raised this year surpassed the previous record of $41,000 raised a few years ago.
Carole Pedler, who headed the swimathon organizing team, said she and others from Century 21 United spent several weeks putting the event together. “This was a special year,” Pedler said. “We had a record 120 swimmers and this is the last year the swimathon will be held in this pool. Next year we’ll be using the new YMCA pool.”
After the event, swimmers, volunteer workers and others gathered at the nearby Legion Hall on Murray Street for a bacon, sausage and eggs breakfast, compliments of Oake.
