Ingrid Nicholson (centre) will be accompanied by her good friends Jim and Carrie Sale when she tackles a four-day swim across Osoyoos Lake from the north end of the lake to the U.S.-Canada border, beginning on Aug. 8. Nicholson is hoping to raise funds for the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre, a local social agency where she has been a volunteer for the past several years. (Keith Lacey photo)

To Ingrid Nicholson, age is just a number and that’s why she has no concerns about her upcoming attempt to swim across the Canadian section of Osoyoos Lake at age 75.

On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Nicholson will begin her journey to swim from the north end of Osoyoos Lake, starting at Willow Beach.

Over the course of four days, the ambitious Osoyoos senior hopes to swim two hours each day and hopes to finish her swim on the beach near the U.S./Canada border on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 11.

Nicholson, who has been an avid swimmer since being a young girl growing up in Germany, said the reason for her lake swim is two fold.

The first is she “likes a challenge … and swimming across the lake at my age is a real challenge” and secondly she hopes to raise some significant dollars for the Desert Sun Resource and Counselling Centre, where she has been an active volunteer for many years.

Five years ago at age 70, Nicholson completed a lengthy one-day swim from the area of Osoyoos Lake known as White Sands to the main beach at Gyro Park to help raise money for the Osoyoos Food Bank.

“When I finished that swim, a lot of my friends asked me if I would do it again, but I was pretty tired, so I said I might try it again in five years,” she said smiling. “Well five years has gone by in the blink of an eye and I’m ready to try it again.”

Nicholson, who has lived in Canada for 53 years, including the past 27 here in Osoyoos, says swimming and being a longtime member of the Osoyoos Dragonboat Team, helps keep her fit and in shape.

“I’ve been an avid swimmer pretty much my entire life,” she said. “I was a young girl in Germany when I first started swimming and I loved it.

“I became a lifeguard and I’ve just enjoyed all of the benefits swimming brings to your life ever since.”

Swimming long distances is exceptionally difficult, but very rewarding, she said.

“I just love everything about it,” she said. “I find it very peaceful and relaxing to be in the water and it’s obviously very good for health reasons.”

Nicholson has already started fundraising and hopes to raise at least $1,500 through pledges from friends, family members and local residents.

“I know a lot of people in town and I shouldn’t have any trouble collecting $10 each from 150 people,” she said.

Nicholson’s good friends Jim and Carrie Sale will accompany her all four days during her journey across Osoyoos Lake.

“Carrie will be my spotter and make sure I start at the correct place the following day and Jim is going to drive the boat and offer encouragement,” she said.

At age 75, Nicholson admits this might be her last long distance fundraising swim.

But then again it might not be.

“If I feel as good as I still do, I might try it again in another five years,” she said. “You might as well set goals in life.”

Nicholson said she has been proud to be  a volunteer with the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre for many years and couldn’t think of a better organization to raise money for.

“They do some great work in the community and help a lot of people and I automatically thought of them when deciding which organization I wanted to help,” she said.

Nicholson said she will continue her daily swims as training leading up to Aug. 8.

If anyone wants to make a donation to Nicholson, they can contact her at 250-495-7844.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times