News & Stories from the
Swim Bowen Community
SwimBowen Beginnings
Mary Letson, Founder
Launching an idea beyond the brainstorm stage can be a little bit like doing a watercolour in the rain. Looking back at SwimBowen’s beginnings, a multitude of excellent Bowen Islanders materialized at just the right time to help shape the idea beyond its initial inspiration.
My inspiration for SwimBowen is personal. Cancer treatment is an endurance sport - once you are in it there is nothing else to do but focus and dig deep for the long haul.
When I finished my treatment, I was struck by how the entirety of cancer fundraising was focused on finding a cure (for good reason). But what about those who were in the midst of the medical marathon? Unemployed and miserable, how did they manage? I will start a fundraiser I declared. I will swim around Bowen Island and raise money for islanders going through cancer treatment. My husband gently suggested that I hold off on any big projects and focus instead on regaining my health. What a good idea I said.
Over the next few years while I gathered my strength (and courage) to take on such a behemoth project I tossed around my fundraising event idea to some swimming friends - in particular Bowen Island’s swimming goddess: Billi Behm. From day one, Billi said yes to everything. Music to a founder’s ears. Why don’t a few swimmers circumnavigate Bowen over the length of a summer? Absolutely, said Billi. A little complex managing weather, tides, entries, exits and swimmer safety marshals – but surely we could manage. I’m in, said Billi.
My daunting event proposal remained moth-balled, and the conversation continued for another 4 years until one day my friend Launette suggested a single day event, and perhaps at Tunstall Bay. And instead of just a few swimmers, why not invite a bunch of swimmers thereby sharing the fundraising load. Simpler. With more impact. What a good idea I said.
I pitched a few more friends to cobble together a board of directors to create a society. This was trickier to sell as it contained the dreaded “c” word – commitment. I am thankful to SwimBowen’s first directors Cathryn Robertson (who had just finished her own cancer marathon) and Wendy Alexander who jumped in and said yes.
During the spring of 2018 the inaugural event was planned for July using my favourite swim route: out and back to Onion Island in Tunstall Bay. The tipping point came with just a few weeks to go before event day when a young couple new to the island (who turned out to be a powerhouse duo with the combined organizational skills to run a small country) offered their help. I met Gillian and Elliott along with keener kayakers Andy and Bruce at Tunstall Bay to look at my course and event execution. Elliott, who just happened to be an elite long distance ocean swimmer with international experience (honestly - does it get better than that?), looked at my route and in moments pinpointed the complications and potential hazards. He scratched out a new idea on the spot. Why not a triangle route straight out from the beach, he suggested. The longer distance participants could simply repeat the course twice. Clearer sight lines. Easier to manage swimmers. Simpler with more impact. What a good idea, I said.
With every fork in the road there was Bowen Islander with an excellent mind, a good ear and a better idea. Because of this, we have flourished attracting both beginners and elite swimmers from near and far celebrating ocean swimming, our health and a fund that has to date gifted over $130,000 to Bowen Islanders in the endurance event of their life.
(Almost) everything you wanted to know about SwimBowen but were afraid to ask!
Q: Does SwimBowen limit registration for Bowen Island residents?
A: No. However - with only 75 spots, there is limited registration for everyone! Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Plan to register the first morning that registration opens (April 1st) and you will get in.
Q: Why is SwimBowen limited to only 75 swimmers?
A: Our board has discussed at length whether or not to expand the event. We have decided to keep it small for several reasons: the volunteer work to pull the event together is significant. More swimmers in the water demands more skilled water safety marshals and in particular more lifeguards. We are already tapped out in this regard. As well, the event is successful with our current, small size so – as they say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Lastly, keeping it small ensures the event maintains its grassroots, community vibe that everyone has grown to love.
Q: Why aren’t there separate divisions for wetsuit/non wetsuit swimmers?
A: We understand finish times are affected by whether or not you are wearing a wetsuit. Unlike for-profit athletic events that strive for the highest possible number of participants and include competitive rankings, SwimBowen’s not for profit mandate is to provide the best possible community experience for all swimmers (beginner to ringer) in the simplest fashion with limited resources all while ensuring ample funds are raised for the Cancer Care Fund supporting island residents in active cancer treatment. We care about your finish times (we have professional timing this year!), however focusing on competitive swimmer divisions is not part of the SwimBowen mandate.
Q: Who benefits from the funds raised at SwimBowen?
A: All proceeds from the annual SwimBowen event support the Cancer Care Fund for Bowen Island residents in active cancer treatment.
Q: Can I receive a tax deductible receipt for my donation to SwimBowen?
A: No. SwimBowen is not a registered charity, we are a not for profit society that is unable to issue tax deductible receipts.
Q: Why is SwimBowen not a registered charity?
A: Our board continues to look into the pros and cons of charitable status for SwimBowen. The number one reason we haven’t switched to this designation is that we would lose our current flexibility to issue Cancer Care Gifts. Gifting cash is highly scrutinized by the CRA (for good reason). Charitable status would require applicants to follow strict CRA guidelines requiring applicants to prove financial need through documentation such as NOA’s and other tax return information - a gifting model that makes sense for an organization working in a large metropolitan environment where individuals could possibly scam the system. However in our small community where everyone knows everyone, Cancer Care Fund gifting is at once safely targeted and confidential and can be delivered within days to those individuals who need it most. Cancer Care Gift amounts would also be limited if we were a designated charity. Could we raise more money as a registered charity? Probably. However, our fundraising achievements to date are laudable. We raise more than enough funds to satisfy every Cancer Care Fund request that to date totals $91,300.
Q: I’ve had a cancer diagnosis but I’m not sure if I qualify for the Cancer Care Fund. What are your requirements to apply for support?
A: As noted above, SwimBowen does not require proof of financial need. We know you have enough on your plate without having to fill out reams of paper work. We know too that if you are asking for help, that means you need it. Asking for help is hard enough without someone questioning whether you truly need it or not. We simply ask that you complete a Cancer Care Fund application (found online at SwimBowen.com/cancercarefund ) confirming you are a Bowen Island resident, a stamp and signature from your physician confirming your prescribed level of treatment, along with an indication of your level of financial need (scale of 1 – 10).
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