On August 16th at 7 am former Canadian national team member Taryn Lencoe will enter the ocean at Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver, BC and attempt to swim until 7 pm to raise money and awareness for the British Columbia Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
“I chose to swim for 12 hours because a regular day, for most people, involves waking up early and not getting to relax again for about 12 hours,” said Lencoe. “People with MS face even more challenges in their 12 hour days, so I want to challenge myself beyond what I am used to.”
Lencoe, who is now a dental assistant in Vancouver, won both the 800 and 1500 freestyle at the 2002 Canadian Summer National Championships and competed at the 2002 Pan Pacific Championships in Yokohama, Japan.
The challenges that those with MS have to face hit home for Lencoe several years ago when her cousin was diagnosed with the illness. Seeing a family member deal with the disease has motivated her to take on the challenge of a 12 hour ocean swim to raise both awareness and funds for the MS Society of Canada, “I hope to raise awareness of this disease. In the process, I am aiming to raise as much money as possible, to go specifically to the British Columbia branch of the MS Society Canada, to help with research and treatment.”
Approximately 100,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with MS which is a disease of the central nervous system. There is no cure and there is no guarantee of an effective treatment.
Lencoe’s goal is to raise $10,000 through this event.
More detailed information on the swim can be found here.
The donation page can be found here.