B. C. teen raises thousands for charity in English Channel swim
While many teens spend summers relaxing, a 17- year- old from Kelowna, B. C., has been pushing her body and mind to the limits and raising thousands of dollars for charity in the process.
Emily Epp swam across the English Channel earlier this month in a gruelling trek that took nearly 12 hours to complete.
Wearing just a bathing suit, a swim cap and goggles, Epp braved less- than- ideal conditions, including chilly, choppy waters and oceans swells that left her nauseated for hours.
She said her family and coaches on the pilot boat tried everything they could to get some fuel into the young swimmer’s body.
“For about an hour, all I ate was ginger ale and a few M& Ms!” Epp said in an email after the swim. “But I was able to shake it off and continue swimming, and I’m very thankful for that.”
The Channel Swimming Association says on its website that the English Channel is “considered by many to be the ultimate long distance challenge,” because the approximately 32 kilometre stretch hosts a variety of difficult conditions, including cold waters, high waves and occasional debris such as seaweed and wood planks.
Epp found that the waters are also home to a variety of sea creatures, including jellyfish that stung her several times during Emily Epp is seen in an undated handout photo at a pub in Dover, U. K., where she signed her name after swimming the English Channel. Epp, a 17- year- old from Kelowna, B. C., who just swam the English Channel and raised more than $ 40,000 for the children’s hospice Canucks Place in the process. her swim. three years of training, including
But the teen persevered and as cold- water and endurance swims she approached France, Epp saw in Kelowna’s Okangan Lake. She something colourful in the sky. also mentally prepared through
“We could see fireworks all visualization and talking to a along the coast for Bastille Day number of people who previously celebrations,” she said. “My boat swam the English Channel. pilot teased me that he had set it “I was very fortunate to have up just for me!” some incredible mentors help
Epp said swimming across me,” Epp said. the English Channel took nearly In June, she put her training
to the test, swimming about 30 kilometres around Bowen Island off the coast of Vancouver in just under 11 hours.
“Her dad and I are super proud,” Emily’s mom, Cheryl Epp, said after the Bowen Island swim. “She blows us away with how determined she is and how hard she’s been working.”
Epp has been working hard on dry land, too, using her epic swim to fundraise for a children’s hospice that has provided crucial care for her family.
“When I found out that most ( English) Channel swimmers choose something to fundraise for, I immediately knew I would try to raise money for Canuck Place,” Epp said.
The family started receiving care there about five years ago for Emily’s sister, Elan, who lost all of her motor control following a viral infection when she was 18 months old.
“It was fun for me and my ( youngest) sister, Erin, to be with other siblings of children who had life- limiting conditions,” Emily Epp said. “Being in a place where my parents could have some help learning different ways to make Elan feel better that wasn’t in a hospital setting, was something we had never experienced before.”
The teen’s original goal was to raise $ 4,000 for Canuck Place. She has now brought in more than $ 44,000, and those funds will be matched by a Vancouver- based foundation.