Ingrid Nicholson gets a big hug from her husband Ian Nicholson after recently completing a fundraising swim covering the Canadian portion of Osoyoos Lake. Nicholson, 75, completed the swim over four days and raised more than $3,500 for the Desert Sun Resource and Counselling Centre. (Contributed photo)

Very few people half her age could accomplish what Ingrid Nicholson accomplished recently as she swam across the Canadian portion of Osoyoos Lake to raise funds for an organization very near and dear to her heart.

Two weeks ago, Nicholson, 75, set out to cross Osoyoos Lake from the northern end of the lake to the area past Haynes Point near the American border.

She set aside four days to complete the swim and nearly completed it in three days and helped raise close to $4,000 for the Desert Sun Resource and Counselling Centre, an organization she has volunteered with for many years, in the process.

“I swam two hours the first day, two hours the second day and only one hour and thirty five minutes the third day because that was a tough day as I was suffering from some leg cramps,” she said. “The fourth and final day was very easy as I was only in the water for 45 minutes when I made it to the border, which was my goal.”

Five years ago, Nicholson swam a large section of Osoyoos Lake to help raise money for the Osoyoos Food Bank.

This time she set a goal to raise $1,500 for Desert Sun, but ended up raising more than $3,500.

“A lot of people in town had heard about it and I received tremendous support,” she said. “A lot of people in town are helped by Desert Sun, so I got a lot more people donating money than I ever thought I would.

“The Osoyoos Elks also came through with a $500 donation, which really helped and was a great boost. Overall, I couldn’t be happier as I raised more than twice the amount of money I had hoped for. It just goes to show what a wonderful community Osoyoos is as they’re always there to help a good cause.”

Nicholson said she could never have completed her lake swim without the assistance of “co-pilots” and good friends Tim and Carrie Sale.

Tim drove the boat all four days, while his wife offered endless words of encouragement throughout the swim, she said.

“They really really helped me and I could not have done this without their help,” he said. “They were great company and really kept me focused and motivated.”

Nicholson has been an avid swimmer since her youth growing up in the Holland and says her lifelong love affair has kept her in good shape throughout her life.

Being able to complete this lengthy swim over four days at age 75 really isn’t a big deal, she said.

“I wanted to do something while I’m still young enough to do it,” she said. “I’ve been swimming my entire life so I really didn’t think this was a big deal. I’m just glad I was able to finish and raise some money for an organization I really care about.”

The only issue throughout the four days was having to swim through milfoil, which covers much of Osoyoos Lake, she said.

“It weighs you down and slows you down a bit and sometimes I had to stop and get rid of some of it that had landed on me,” she said.

Nicholson said she would consider another fundraising swim if she remains in tip top shape five years from now.

“I don’t want to do something like this every year, but I would consider doing something similar again in five years if I’m up to it,” she said. “I told my friends five years ago after my first swim that I would do something at 75 and I did it.

“If I continue to feel as good as I do now, I would consider doing something once again five years down the road.”

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times