Penguins CAN Fly
July 20th, 2006 | by MadHacktress |Teen with cerebral palsy swims Lake Ontario
Using only her arms, teen swims across Lake Ontario
Jenna vs. Lake Ontario
Thirty-two kilometres (20 miles), that’s how far Jenna Lambert, a resident of my own home town, swam - using only her arms to keep her afloat. She is the first disabled woman to make a crossing of Lake Ontario.
The young woman, part of world-record holder Vicki Keith’s Penquins Can Fly program, has cerebral palsy. She left the water yesterday with the aid of a walker, which she uses to assist herself in getting around on land. In the water, however, it’s all Jenna.
Jenna swam the vast distance between Baird Pont, N.Y. and Lake Ontario Park, Kingston, Ontario in just around 32 hours. She faced difficult winds for a good portion of the first part of the race, putting her behind schedule somewhat - Jenna had hoped to arrive at Lake Ontario Park 24 hours after stepping in to the water.
During the swim Jenna had to eat, which was a very difficult and complicated process given that she could not touch a boat, or any person while treading water. Complicating this matter more was the fact that Jenna’s feet and legs offer her no floatation in the water, treading water for Jenna lambert is all about the arms. That makes eating something of a task.
The Kid 4 Kids Marathon managed to raise - at last estimate - 50,000$.
Vicki Keith is a resident of Amherst Island, with her husband and trainer/manager, John Monro. Keith has, herself, crossed Lake Ontario on six occasions.
Entry Filed under: In The News
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