Solo Swims of Ontario Inc.Solo Swims of Ontario Inc.
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On 19 Aug 2012, Annaleise Carr became the youngest swimmer (14y 158d) to conquer the NOTL-MBP, 50.5 km, course on Lake Ontario with her time of 26:40:54. Her title of "Youngest" for this course was taken less than two years later on 4 Aug 2014 by Trinity Arsenault at age 14y 71d with a time of 23:19:57.
Annaleise Rebekah Carr (A.R.C.) is a proud member of the Norfolk Hammerhead Aquatic Club in Simcoe, and of the North Shore Runners/Swimmers in Port Dover, Ontario. Her goal was to complete the swim in order to raise money and awareness for Camp Trillium.
Camp Trillium became close to her heart when she visited it in the summer of 2011 as part of the North Shore Swimmers. As a group, ten of them (9 adults and Annaleise) completed a 10
km open water swim from Pottahawk Point (located off Long Point in Norfolk County) to Turkey Point, followed by a 10 km run from Turkey Point to the Long Point Eco-Adventure
Park. They raised around $15,000 for Camp Trillium, but the visit to the Rainbow Lake facility was forever etched in her memory. It is an awesome place for awesome people. You see,
the camp exists for children with cancer and their families--a sort of haven away from what they are going through--and she doesn't like to see kids hurt. She said to her Mom that she
wanted to volunteer there as a lifeguard, but she was told at the time she needed to be 18 years old in order to volunteer at the camp. That wasn't good enough for Annaleise! The people
who visit, work, and run this place are incredible!
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Annaleise swam competitively since she was 4 years old. She swam at long- and short-course Ontario Provincials, as well as open-water Ontario Provincials. She competed at provincial
lifeguard games as a member of the Town of Tillsonburg Lifesaving Club and in triathlons. Not very tall in stature (4'10"), but huge in heart! Distance swimming was always her passion
in swimming; however, it was only in the previous 3-4 years that the Lakes became her playground.
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Annaleise crossed Lake Ontario following the traditional Marilyn Bell route from
Niagara-on-the-Lake to Marilyn Bell Park near the CNE in Toronto (considered one of the
most difficult open water swims in the world). It was reported that "She has been blessed
to be able to swim a long way and she wanted to use that gift to help the kids and their
families at Camp Trillium". Her achievement certainly brought more awareness to the
plight of Camp Trillium.
At around 9:00 pm Sunday, August 19, 2012, Annaleise touched the wall at Marilyn Bell Park, making her the youngest person to swim across that course from NOTL, as well as the youngest person of a number of proud Canadians to join the "24 Hour Club". This international group includes all swimmers who have conducted marathon swim of 24 hours or longer. As for fundraising, her original goal was to raise $30,000 and by April 2013 she had raised well over $250,000! She continues to raise funds for children's charities as she makes presentations about her swim and competes in other endurance sports. |
Swim Master: John Bulsza
Swim Managers: Jeff & Debbie Carr
Coach: Lisa Anderson-Gregoriev
Accolades for Annaleise include:
* World Open-Water Swimming Association 2012 Woman of the Year
* Finalist for Global Marathon Swimming Awards Solo Swim of the Year (Female)
* 2012 TVO Kids "Super Citizen" Award
* Ontario Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Pin
* Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship
* 2012 Canadian Sport Awards Spirit of Sport Story of the Year
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal presented by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
* Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award
* Commemorative Signs at the entrance to the Village of Walsh, Ontario, CANADA
* Renaming of the pool at the Simcoe Recreation Centre to the "Annaleise Carr Aquatic Centre"
* Renaming of the main hall at Camp Trillium Rainbow Lake, Waterford, Ontario, to the "Annaleise Carr Activity Centre"
* #10 on CTV Kitchener Top 10 Stories of 2012
* In the 20 of 2012 on CHCH TV
* 2012 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year
* 2012 Inductee into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition
* Honorary Commissioner for Maple Leaf Sport & Entertainment inaugural Team-Up Challenge through their Team-Up Foundation
* Lions International Melvin Jones Fellowship
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| The Star Report: Swim Tim Alamenciak |
The Star Report: Valedictorian Speech Photo: Lucas Oleniuk |
Compiled with materials provided by Jeff Carr
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Created: 3rd May 2013
Updated: 17th October 2013
