On Sunday, August 17, 14-year-old Cali broke a 50-year-old world record. She became the youngest person since 1964 to complete The Big Swim.
This year, 50 swimmers attempted to cross the Northumberland Straight, an open body of water that forms the southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and stretches from the shores of New Brunswick to the shores of Prince Edward Island—also known as The Big Swim with its 8.6 to 10.5 mile distance depending on the current. It’s an annual tradition for seasoned swimmers to fundraise money for Brigadoon Camp.
Cali’s goal was to raise $10,000 for Brigadoon—a camp that gives children with disabilities or chronic illnesses a chance to make connections with other children. It takes $1,000 to send one child to camp.
Fueled with Isagenix through a year’s worth of practice, Cali had one very important person in mind during her six-hour swim.
“I wanted to complete this swim for my cousin, Kevin, who died of brain cancer when he was 15,” explains Cali. “He never had the opportunity to go to camp, even though he wanted to. I want to give children these opportunities to be around others so they all know they’re supported.”
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