The Foresters BIG Swim for Arthritis is the first event of its kind in
Canada
involving approximately 150 pools, from
one coast, to another. This national swimming event is designed to
increase awareness about the benefits of water-based activity for those
with arthritis, and to raise funds for The Arthritis Society. The event
takes place in pools across the country from
April 20 – 23, 2006
. It will be held in
Valley East
on April 21 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Christine Brosseau, on
the right in the photo, will be one of the swimmers participating in the
event at the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre in
Valley East
. She is shown with Anne Gervais, Facility
Pool Operator.
Anne, who was instrumental in making the arrangements to have her
pool involved in the event, invites people of all ages and physical
abilities to participate in the Foresters BIG Swim and help raise funds
for the Arthritis Society. The event includes distance swims, aquafit and
aqua “fun” for children, all designed to inspire Canadians to engage
in water-based exercise.
For people who have arthritis, swimming and water-based activity is
one of the best ways of exercising and maintaining a good physical fitness
level.
The Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre offers a Pool Therapy Class
every Tuesday and Thursday from
2
to
3 p.m.
where people with arthritis can
participate in an instructor-lead program of swimming and exercise.
Christine, who is a
victim of rheumatoid arthritis, began swimming two years ago. She can
often be found in the pool several hours a day, taking advantage of adult
swims and public swimming sessions. Her goal is to complete the 5000
meters necessary to receive a “Gold
Medal” at the Foresters BIG Swim event. That will require her to
swim 200 laps of the pool in about three hours. She now swims between 60
and 100 laps a day and is “training” for the big day on April 22. The
best she has ever done to date is 2000 laps over a 17 day period.
Christine will be at
the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre every Saturday between now and the BIG
event, seeking sponsorship donations and providing information and
inspiration to people interested in helping the Arthritis Society.
All residents are
encouraged to provide Christine with a couple of dollars in an effort to
make life a bit better for the many people in our society who are affected
by this disease. We all wish Christine the best of luck in achieving her
“Gold Medal”.
