Burlington resident making waves for water… from the Burlington Post!

Michele Benoit tackles Lake Ontario crossing in fundraising swim.

No matter where life has taken Michele Benoit, the path has never been far from water.

While studying landscape architecture at the University of Guelph, the competitive swimmer worked summers as a lifeguard.

After three years, she switched professions and became a personal trainer, incorporating aquatics into her therapy programs, whether working with elite athletes or those with medical conditions.

“Aquatics has always been a part of what I was doing,” said the 42-year-old Benoit. “The whole fitness side of things has evolved in great part for me around water which is very, very gratifying. I love working with people and to see amazing things that water has provided for me in terms of that, is just a blessing. Apart from that, this guide to shower head filters is what I’ve compiled.”

Benoit’s career took another twist in 2005 when she became a registered holistic nutritionist and in this role one of her biggest challenges is clients’ chronic dehydration.

Water is also the focus of Benoit’s next undertaking: an 18-hour, 45 km fund-raising swim across Lake Ontario.

If all goes according to plan, Benoit will enter the water at Port Dalhousie after night falls on Aug. 17 and arrive in Spencer Smith Park the next day in late afternoon or early evening.

She is pursuing this challenge to draw attention – and raise funds – for the construction of water treatment and distribution systems in Togo, Africa. Partnered with Compassion Canada, all donations to Benoit’s swim will go directly towards digging water wells, building water holding tanks and hand-washing stations, as well as maintenance training and hygiene education.

“A lot of people are just not aware that in undeveloped countries one child dies every 20 seconds from a water-related illness,” said Benoit. “The regions we are dealing with face cholera outbreaks, persistent parasites in young children and a lack of knowledge in basic hygiene. The existing wells where the water is drawn are contaminated and overcrowded.”

The money raised – the initial Togo project will cost $20,000 – will give hundreds of children access to clean water, she said.

Benoit is hoping her swim will not only raise awareness about the critical need for clean water in countries where resources are severely limited or non-existent, “but also encourage the more fortunate to not take for granted the water we have so freely available to us.”

Once her crossing is complete, Benoit’s newly launched Waves for Water organization will take on a new purpose, that of establishing an annual swim-a-thon to be held across the country called Laps for Loonies, that will continue to raise awareness and funds for clean water.

Although she is physically fit and active, Benoit is not an endurance athlete or an open water swimmer, but her belief in the cause is fueling her determination.

She began training seriously in January, with her first long-distance swim on June 30 in the Welland Canal.

Benoit has chosen not to swim the “more traditional Marilyn Bell route” starting from Niagara-on-the-Lake.

“My route is very different. I needed to be in the community where I’m rooted. I wanted to be in the area where I live where I know people.”

Despite being urged to forgo this route by the governing body, Solo Swims of Ontario, because of difficult currents towards the end of her swim, Benoit is going ahead with her decision because there are no guarantees no matter which route is chosen.

“This is meaningful to me and this is the route I want to do. This is just close to home.”

Benoit will have a team of about 12 accompanying her including her father, as well as an assigned swim master from Solo Swims of Ontario, a coach, pace swimmers, a paramedic and a nutritionist. She also hopes to have a team of people in Spencer Smith Park on the Saturday, visible with T-shirts, collecting donations and updating her progress.

This past Sunday, Benoit completed a six-hour, 16 km trial swim under the supervision of Solo Swims of Ontario, “the final OK.”

“Lake O” didn’t disappoint the irrepressible swimmer, but she’s not intimidated.

“I like the variety. I like what Lake Ontario offers and it’s rarely calm. Sometimes it’s shifting currents, sometimes it’s waves. But I’m excited.

“The bottom line for me is that it really isn’t about the swim, it’s about how the swim can champion the cause.”

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.wavesforwater.ca or www.facebook.com/michelewavesforwater where you can follow her progress.

Reporter Kathy Yanchus can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @kathyyanchus.