By Ashley Sperling
Aching joints, stiffness, swelling, and trouble walking are just a few of the symptoms that can be associated with arthritis. Madeline Legault remembers the pain she suffered from arthritis, that’s why she is happy to hear about The Forester’s Big Swim for Arthritis – a nationwide event that kicked off in Ottawa on Jan. 25.
“You’d wake up in the night and it was so painful,” says the 75-year-old who has been arthritis free for at least 10 years, thanks to the pool.
The Big Swim is a three-day swimming challenge to raise awareness and money for arthritis.
One hundred and fifty pools across Canada will be participating.
Forester’s is a company that offers life insurance and investment products.
Three-time Olympian Joanne Malar, the spokesperson of the Big Swim, is encouraging Canadians to dive in to support arthritis.
Malar is travelling across the country to promote the event, and began in Victoria and ending in Hamilton, her hometown.
The Big Swim will take place in April and swimmers of all ages and abilities can participate at their local pools.
The swimmers will gather pledges leading up to the event. The challenges range from distance swimming to aqua fit classes and this is the first year for the Big Swim.
Local Ottawa athletes and Malar played a game of water polo against the Nepean Sportsplex staff to kick off the Big Swim.
A new city initiative is getting Ottawa pools involved in the Big Swim.
Twenty-two Ottawa area pools will hold the event in April according to Jim O’Malley, the pool manager at the Nepean Sportsplex.
“So many people I know have arthritis and we need that money,” says Legault.
She has participated in an aqua therapy class at the Jack Purcell pool in Centretown at least once a week for the last 20 years.
Megan Leah says the event is a way to promote swimming for sport and recreation and at the same time raise money for arthritis research.
Leah is the aquatic co-ordinator at the Jack Purcell pool in Centretown.
She says swimming is great therapy for arthritis because it is low impact and keeps people moving.
Gloria Anderson is considering participating in the Big Swim and thinks it is a good way to raise awareness about arthritis and the benefits of swimming. She attends the aqua therapy class at the Jack Purcell pool since her doctor recommended the pool for her arthritis.
“It helps with the existing arthritis somehow, but I feel that I am taking a preventative measure in terms of the other joints that aren’t even affected by arthritis,” she says.
Judith Barber is a physiotherapist and the instructor of the aqua therapy class. She says, “I think it’s (the Big Swim) important so that people understand what water can do for them.”
This new Big Swim program will “test the waters,” says Nancy Lawlor, the manager of regional development of Eastern Ontario for the Arthritis Society.
She says there are more than 100 types of arthritis and the money raised from pledges in the Big Swim will go towards arthritis research and programs. Lawlor says the event is geared towards getting people healthy, active and limber.
“I think it’s going to be a fun event.”
Jack Purcell pool will hold its Big Swim April 27-30.