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 . Christine will be taking to the water with up to a dozen local swimmers in Valley East on April 21 from 9 a.m. to noon.
  
Christine, who herself 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. 

At this point in her training, with less than a week to go, she is covering 110 lengths of the pool in 90 minutes. Moreover, she claims that she actually feels stronger once she gets past the first 80 or 90 laps. The only thing keeping her from swimming any more than that is the fact that the swim times are not long enough. She is confident that her “training” program is right on schedule for the big day on April 21. 

Christine has already achieved one of her two goals. She passed the $500 in total pledges. Now all that is left is for her to swim the 5000 meters and she is confident that she will accomplish that personal goal as well.  
  
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”.

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