Early-morning swimmers gathered Friday at the YMCA of Central East Ontario for the 40th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim, celebrating four decades of community fundraising.
Hosted by Century 21 United and the Rotary Club of Peterborough, this year’s event embraced an 1980s theme — a tribute to when Carl Oake first began collecting pledges, a nickel per lap, for Easter Seals Canada.
PTBOTODAY.ca was there and spoke with Rotary President Tony Grady.
Organizers had set an ambitious goal of surpassing $1.5 million raised over the event’s history in support of Easter Seals, the YMCA Strong Kids Program and Rotary projects. Final fundraising totals are expected in the coming days, with online donations continuing through March 13th.
Vanessa Oake Hogan says this event always warms her heart.
Founded in 1921, the Rotary Club of Peterborough has more than 70 members and supports a wide range of local and international initiatives, from children’s programs and food security to global polio eradication and clean water projects. The club is one of four Rotary clubs in the region and part of a worldwide network of more than 46,000 clubs.
(Written by: Jordan Mercier)
