Swim Challenge morning swimmers, left-right, were Eileen Will, Marie Claire Halaburda, Carol Basarab, Dawn Rohloff, and Bob Rohloff with aquatic programmer Ginger Peterson.

Richard Froese
South Peace News

Several people were honoured for their efforts in the Bay of Fundy 105-Kilometre Swim Challenge at the High Prairie Regional Aquatic Centre.

“Although 53 people entered the challenge, 10 completed and surpassed the distance,” says Ginger Petersen, aquatic programmer.

The program from Oct. 19 to May 16.

Tina Ostermeier swam 250 km for the longest distance. She was followed by: Shane Farnham, 192 km; Marie Claire Halaburda, 139 km; Dawn Rohloff, 132 km; Eileen Will, 115 km; Susan Smith, 108 km; Carol Basarab, 106 km; Laura Cannon, 106 km; Bob Rohloff, 106 km; and Wayne Stafford, 105 km.

For the lead swimmer, the challenge was not new.

“This is the third time doing the challenge,” Ostermeier says.
“I do it for my heart and I like to swim.”

She says she completed the previous challenge about five years ago.

“This was my personal best,” says Ostermeier, who swam 7,000 laps.

Peterson notes that 40 lengths of the pool is one kilometre.

Swimmers say the challenge was beneficial.

“It was great fun and motivational,” says Carol Basarab.

“We started to swim for exercise and when we heard about the challenge, we decided to go for it,” Bob Rohloff says.

“And it gave us incentive,” wife Dawn Rohloff adds.

She says she didn’t focus on the number of kilometres, but simply recognized it was the distance from High Prairie to Slave Lake.

Participants ranged from seven years old to seniors in their 60s.

“The swim challenge was initiated to promote the health and wellness in the community and to get residents to connect with the aquatic centre,” Peterson says.
“It also provides an opportunity for people who don’t use the pool, to see what the centre offers.”

She says the recent challenge was the first one in many years.

All swimmers who reached the goal earned a one-month membership from Peak Fitness and a T-shirt to remember their efforts.

For swimming the farthest distance, Oster- meier received a three-month membership to the aquatic centre.

Every five kilometres there was checkpoint where participants were eligible to win a door prize.

Swim Challenge evening swimmers, left-right, were Laura Cannon, Shane Farnham, Susan Smith, Tina Ostermeier and Wayne Stafford, with Bob Calhoon of Peak Fitness, which donated a one-month membership to all who reached or exceeded the target.